2024 Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Guidelines for cervical cancer prevention and screening

Abstract

Primary prevention of cervical cancer is best achieved by vaccinating girls with a prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Despite the high efficacy of such vaccines, cervical cancer screening remains necessary because current vaccines do not offer full protection. Secondary prevention via cervical screening should target all women from age 25 years or at the onset of sexual activity, whichever occurs later, until age 64 years. Screening is recommended at 3-year intervals after two consecutive normal annual cytology results, or at 5-year intervals using HPV-based testing (either HPV co-test with cytology or HPV stand-alone). Women who have undergone hysterectomy with cervix removal for benign disease and have no prior history of cervical dysplasia can discontinue screening. Women with HPV-positive, cytology-negative co-test results should either undergo repeat co-testing in 12 months or immediate HPV16/18 genotyping. Immediate referral of women with positive stand-alone HPV test results for colposcopy without further triage is not recommended. A second triage test using cytology, genotyping for HPV16/18, or p16/Ki-67 dual-stain should be conducted to accurately identify women at high risk for high-grade lesions who thus require colposcopy referral. Women with HPV-positive, cytology-positive co-test results, or high-grade abnormal cytology results should be referred for colposcopy. Treatment with a loop electrosurgical excision procedure is recommended for women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). After HSIL treatment, long-term follow-up with HPV-based testing over 25 years is preferred. When cytology results show atypical glandular cells, colposcopy and sampling of the endocervix and endometrium are recommended.

Keywords: Colposcopy; Human papillomavirus viruses; Squamous intraepithelial lesions; Uterine cervical neoplasms.