In Australia, over 2 million Pap tests are performed each year with the aim of detecting abnormal cells and reducing illness and death resulting from cervical cancers.
In 2006, new guidelines for the management of women with an abnormal Pap test results were implemented. They are directed at assisting practitioners and clinicians to manage the 110,000 abnormalities detected each year according to evidence-based information which guides best practice.
Because some recommendations contained in the guidelines were significantly different to the previous (1994) guidelines, a Safety Monitoring Committee comprised of relevant experts was established to monitor the safety of the recommendations. The Committee needed to answer the question 'Has there been an increase in the risk of cervical cancer under the 2005 Guidelines compared to the 1994 Guidelines?'
Analyses were performed by the AIHW to help the Committee answer this question. These analyses showed no evidence that the risk of cervical cancer diagnosis had changed as a result of the change in management guidelines in women who have a low-grade squamous abnormality detected on a Pap test. There are not yet sufficient data available to determine if there has been a change in risk of cervical cancer in women following management of a high-grade abnormality.
The figure below illustrates the boundaries used to assist in the monitoring of the new guidelines. The safe range is indicated by the white area and the test statistics are indicated by the black dots.
Additional information