Cytological surveillance compared with immediate referral for colposcopy in management of women with low grade cervical abnormalities: multicentre randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives To examine the effectiveness of cytological surveillance in primary care compared with immediate referral for colposcopic examination in women with low grade abnormal results on cervical cytology tests. Design Multicentre individually randomised controlled trial. Setting NHS cervical screening programmes in Grampian, Tayside, and Nottingham. Participants 4439 women, aged 20-59, with a cytology result showing borderline nuclear abnormalities or mild dyskaryosis, October 1999-October 2002. Interventions Cytological screening every six months in primary care (n=2223) or referral for colposcopy and related interventions (n=2216). All women were followed for three years, concluding with an exit appointment at which colposcopic examination was undertaken. Colposcopists assessing outcome at this appointment were blinded to randomisation. Main outcome measures Primary end point: cumulative incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II or more severe disease. Other end points: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III or worse, clinically significant anxiety and depression, other self reported after effects, and rates of non-attendance. Analysis was by intention to treat; all those randomised were included. Results The cumulative incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II or worse was 79 per 1000 person years in the colposcopy arm and 58 per 1000 person years in the cytological surveillance arm (relative risk 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.19 to 1.57). This difference was less marked for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III or more severe disease, but the incidence was still higher in the colposcopy arm (relative risk 1.26, 1.04 to 1.53). Among women randomised to immediate colposcopy, 79% (74.9% to 82.5%) of cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II or worse were diagnosed at the time of the immediate colposcopy, while among women randomised to cytological surveillance, 77% (72.1% to 81.2%) of cases were detected by surveillance cytology and related interventions. Similar proportions of women were anxious or depressed in the two arms. A higher proportion of women in the colposcopy arm reported after effects, and these were of longer duration and more severe. Non-attendance was low in both arms. Conclusion The more marked difference between the arms in the occurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II or worse than in the occurrence of grade III or worse can probably be accounted for by the spontaneous regression of some cases of grade II neoplasia. Compared with cytological surveillance, a policy of immediate colposcopy detects more cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II or worse, and some more grade III or worse, but might lead to overtreatment. Such a policy is associated with a higher rate of reported after effects, which are more severe and of longer duration than those associated with cytological surveillance. Trial registration ISRCTN 34841617.

Does the correspondence between EQ-5D health state description and VAS score vary by medical condition?

“…These women would have experienced excision or ablation of abnormalities as necessary, and were recorded at approximately nine months post-event [19,20]. …”

“…These women were under routine cytological surveillance following abnormal cytology, which had occurred up to one year prior to HRQL measurement [19,20]. …”

Psychosocial Impact of Alternative Management Policies for Low-Grade Cervical Abnormalities: Results from the TOMBOLA Randomised Controlled Trial

“…In the large, population-based, randomised controlled trial known as TOMBOLA, nested within the UK NHS Cervical Screening Programmes (CSP), in which women were followed for three years after receipt of low-grade abnormal cytology, we found that CIN2/3 was detected earlier in women undergoing immediate colposcopy. However, the cost-effectiveness of the alternative management approaches did not differ, and immediate colposcopy was associated with higher levels of physical after-effects [15], [16]. Making informed choices between such alternatives requires a full understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each policy but, so far, evidence on the psychological impact on women is limited; most studies have been small, considered only one management strategy and/or were not randomised.…”

HPV16 genotype, p16/Ki‐67 dual staining and koilocytic morphology as potential predictors of the clinical outcome for cervical low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions

“…6,7 However, some authors advocate a more conservative approach to LSIL cytology and propose cytological follow-up with or without HPV testing. 5,[8][9][10][11] The morphology of LSIL includes a range of cellular changes from koilocytic atypia with slight nuclear changes to clearly dysplastic cells with dyskaryotic nuclei and abundant cytoplasm. 12 Koilocytosis is considered to be the cytopathic effect of HPV infection, but is not a necessary feature of LSIL, 13,14 and is more likely to be associated with non-progressive lesions.…”