[Cancer of the cervix uteri: analysis of the cost-benefit and efficacy of opportunistic screening versus organized screening]

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the fourth cancer in women. It is the first malignancy for which mass population screening has been demonstrated to significantly reduce the mortality due to this disease. In Belgium, the mortality associated to cervical cancer decreased from 6 to 4 per 100,000 women-years from 1955-1959 to 1985-1989. European recommendations regarding cervical cancer screening are to perform a cervical smear each three years in women aged 25 to 65 years. In Belgium, while the Flemish region has decided to organize the cervical cancer screening according to the European recommendations, the screening in the French part of the country is essentially opportunistic. In this short review, the cost/benefit of the organized screening versus the opportunistic screening is discussed.