Although cervical cancer is usually curable if detected early, it remains a devastating disease that claims the lives of thousands of women each year. This year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 10,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 3,700 will die of the disease.
Over the years, many advances have been made in an attempt to control cervical cancer. Most recently, the FDA approved a vaccine to guard against the human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus commonly associated with cervical cancer.
While the vaccine is a big step forward in women’s health, women need to understand that regular visits to their doctor and annual Pap testing remains their best protection against developing the disease. The vaccine guards against four types of HPV, which are responsible for approximately 70% of all cervical cancers, and the duration of the vaccine’s effectiveness is unknown.
Since cervical cancer can only be detected with a Pap test, early detection and diagnostic accuracy remain paramount in reducing the number of women who are affected by this disease. It is also important that women receive the best methods in cervical cancer screening available to them.
The ThinPrep Pap Test, which is labeled by the FDA as “significantly more effective” than the conventional Pap test, is a liquid-based test in which a collection device is submerged in a liquid preservative after the sample has been collected, ensuring that all cervical cells are captured. A lab processes the vial, removing mucus, blood and other debris, creating a slide containing a representative sample of cells that are clear and easy to read.
The ThinPrep Pap Test is also the only liquid-based test cleared by the FDA to test for the HPV virus. After a patient’s Pap test sample is reviewed, and if abnormalities are found, the pathologist can re-test the same sample for HPV without the patient’s return to the office. This “reflex” screening can save the patient the time and anxiety associated with an abnormal result.
Long Island Jewish Medical Center has implemented the ThinPrep Imaging System which further improves the diagnostic accuracy of the ThinPrep Pap Test. Cleared by the FDA in 2003, the ThinPrep Imaging System helps cytopathologists and cytotechnologists find abnormalities faster and diagnose them quicker. This technology is the first fully integrated, interactive computer system that assists technicians in the detection of abnormal cells. Improved accuracy can lead to earlier detection of precancerous changes, which is the key to preventing cervical cancer.
Recent clinical studies show the combination of the ThinPrep Pap Test and the ThinPrep Imaging System provides a more accurate diagnosis and achieves a higher level of certainty in cervical screening. With the implementation of this improved technology, women in our area can take advantage of the best cervical cancer screening available and ensure they are doing what they can to protect themselves from this disease.
Dr. Patricia Wasserman is Chief of Cytopathology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park.To learn more about advancements in cervical cancer screening, please contact Dr. Wasserman at LIJ Medical Center or visit www.thinprep.com.
