High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen‐positive women

Abstract Introduction Diagnostic work‐up of older women with a positive cervical cancer screening test is often challenging due to incomplete visualization of the transformation zone. To reduce the risk of missing disease, a diagnostic cervical excision may be performed. However, little is known on...

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Main Authors: Line Winther Gustafson, Louise Krog, Bayan Sardini, Mette Tranberg, Lone Kjeld Petersen, Berit Andersen, Pinar Bor, Anne Hammer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.15019
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author Line Winther Gustafson
Louise Krog
Bayan Sardini
Mette Tranberg
Lone Kjeld Petersen
Berit Andersen
Pinar Bor
Anne Hammer
author_facet Line Winther Gustafson
Louise Krog
Bayan Sardini
Mette Tranberg
Lone Kjeld Petersen
Berit Andersen
Pinar Bor
Anne Hammer
author_sort Line Winther Gustafson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Diagnostic work‐up of older women with a positive cervical cancer screening test is often challenging due to incomplete visualization of the transformation zone. To reduce the risk of missing disease, a diagnostic cervical excision may be performed. However, little is known on treatment efficacy and post‐treatment surveillance for older women. We aimed to investigate the proportion of women testing negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) following a diagnostic cervical excision due to an abnormal screening test. Material and Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study on women aged ≥45 years who were referred for colposcopy due to an abnormal screening test between March 2019 and June 2021. All women had incomplete visualization of the transformation zone and underwent colposcopy and a diagnostic cervical excision at the first visit. Women were followed from date of excision until January 30, 2023. Follow‐up data was retrieved from the Danish Pathology Databank, and baseline characteristics were obtained from medical records. Cox regression was used on interval‐censored data to estimate crude and adjusted hazard ratios for a negative HPV test after cervical excision, stratified by histology and age. Results A total of 100 women underwent a diagnostic cervical excision and had at least one HPV test during follow‐up. Median age was 67.4 years, and median follow‐up time was 2.9 years. At the end of follow‐up, 70% tested HPV negative. Women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade two or worse in their excision specimen were more likely to test HPV negative at the first test after cervical excision compared to women with less than cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade two, however, not statistically significant (adjusted hazard ratio 1.69, 95% CI 0.92–3.10). Women aged 65–84 years were less likely to test HPV negative compared to women <65 years (adjusted hazard ratio 0.49, 95% CI 0.28–0.87). Conclusions In older women undergoing a diagnostic cervical excision, 70% tested HPV negative after 2.9 years, leaving 30% with persistent HPV positivity. More studies are needed to determine the risks associated with continued HPV positivity in the absence of high‐grade disease. Furthermore, given the absence of specific guidelines, the optimal surveillance frequency remains unknown.
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spelling doaj-art-edee9f28bedd421db45a4dc4955d78e42025-08-20T03:31:01ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122025-02-01104234234910.1111/aogs.15019High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen‐positive womenLine Winther Gustafson0Louise Krog1Bayan Sardini2Mette Tranberg3Lone Kjeld Petersen4Berit Andersen5Pinar Bor6Anne Hammer7University Research Clinic for Cancer Screening Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital Randers DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Aarhus University Hospital Aarhus DenmarkUniversity Research Clinic for Cancer Screening Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital Randers DenmarkUniversity Research Clinic for Cancer Screening Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital Randers DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Odense University Hospital Odense DenmarkUniversity Research Clinic for Cancer Screening Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital Randers DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Medicine Aarhus University Aarhus DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Medicine Aarhus University Aarhus DenmarkAbstract Introduction Diagnostic work‐up of older women with a positive cervical cancer screening test is often challenging due to incomplete visualization of the transformation zone. To reduce the risk of missing disease, a diagnostic cervical excision may be performed. However, little is known on treatment efficacy and post‐treatment surveillance for older women. We aimed to investigate the proportion of women testing negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) following a diagnostic cervical excision due to an abnormal screening test. Material and Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study on women aged ≥45 years who were referred for colposcopy due to an abnormal screening test between March 2019 and June 2021. All women had incomplete visualization of the transformation zone and underwent colposcopy and a diagnostic cervical excision at the first visit. Women were followed from date of excision until January 30, 2023. Follow‐up data was retrieved from the Danish Pathology Databank, and baseline characteristics were obtained from medical records. Cox regression was used on interval‐censored data to estimate crude and adjusted hazard ratios for a negative HPV test after cervical excision, stratified by histology and age. Results A total of 100 women underwent a diagnostic cervical excision and had at least one HPV test during follow‐up. Median age was 67.4 years, and median follow‐up time was 2.9 years. At the end of follow‐up, 70% tested HPV negative. Women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade two or worse in their excision specimen were more likely to test HPV negative at the first test after cervical excision compared to women with less than cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade two, however, not statistically significant (adjusted hazard ratio 1.69, 95% CI 0.92–3.10). Women aged 65–84 years were less likely to test HPV negative compared to women <65 years (adjusted hazard ratio 0.49, 95% CI 0.28–0.87). Conclusions In older women undergoing a diagnostic cervical excision, 70% tested HPV negative after 2.9 years, leaving 30% with persistent HPV positivity. More studies are needed to determine the risks associated with continued HPV positivity in the absence of high‐grade disease. Furthermore, given the absence of specific guidelines, the optimal surveillance frequency remains unknown.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.15019cervical intraepithelial neoplasiaHPVlarge loop excision of the transformation zoneloss of HPV detectionpostmenopausal womentest‐of‐cure
spellingShingle Line Winther Gustafson
Louise Krog
Bayan Sardini
Mette Tranberg
Lone Kjeld Petersen
Berit Andersen
Pinar Bor
Anne Hammer
High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen‐positive women
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
HPV
large loop excision of the transformation zone
loss of HPV detection
postmenopausal women
test‐of‐cure
title High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen‐positive women
title_full High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen‐positive women
title_fullStr High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen‐positive women
title_full_unstemmed High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen‐positive women
title_short High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen‐positive women
title_sort high rate of persistent hpv detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen positive women
topic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
HPV
large loop excision of the transformation zone
loss of HPV detection
postmenopausal women
test‐of‐cure
url https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.15019
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