Orientador: Agnaldo Lopes da Silva Filho / Resumo: O câncer do colo uterino mantém altas taxas de incidência e mortalidade no Brasil, apesar do Programa Viva Mulher ter ampliado muito o acesso ao teste de Papanicolaou. O rastreamento desta neoplasia através do exame citológico foi responsável por redução significativa da sua ocorrência em países desenvolvidos, que monitoram a qualidade deste método em todos os passos que envolvem sua realização. Entretanto, essa realidade não é observada regularmente nos países em desenvolvimento. Partindo desta constatação, esse trabalho tem como foco as análises da visão do patologista brasileiro sobre o exame citológico e de critérios médicos necessários para melhorar a qualidade do rastreamento. Para tanto, foi realizado estudo descritivo observacional constituído por uma análise qualitativa reunindo entrevistas com patologistas, e pela aplicação de um questionário aos patologistas brasileiros, com perguntas sobre a estrutura de serviços que realizam exames citológicos no país. Os resultados evidenciaram claramente a preocupação deste profissional com seu afastamento do programa de rastreamento e com a necessidade de um controle de qualidade mais criterioso. Também foi observada uma crítica relação entre as falhas do rastreamento citológico, a atuação do patologista e a estrutura dos serviços responsáveis por este exame. Assim, o estudo identificou a imperativa necessidade de educação continuada dos profissionais responsáveis pelo exame citológico do colo uterino, além da implementação de... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The uterine cervix's cancer maintains high rates of incidence and mortality in Brazil, despite of the fact that the Programa Viva Mulher have expanded the access to the Papanicolaou’s test. The screening of this neoplasm by the cytological test was responsible for a significant reduction of events in developed countries, which have well stablished quality control systems. However, this reality cannot be seen in developing countries. Therefore, this study focuses on the analysis of the Brazilian pathologist's view of the cytological test and the medical criteria needed to improve the quality of screening. For this reason, a descriptive observational study was conducted, including a qualitative analysis with interviews with pathologists and the application of a questionnaire, about the structure of services that perform cytological examinations in the country. The results clearly showed the concern of this professional with your gradative removal from the screening program, and the need for a more careful quality control. A critical relationship was also observed between the failures of cytological screening, the performance of the pathologist and the structure of the services responsible for this exam. In this way, the study identified the imperative need for continued education of the professionals responsible for cervical cytological examination, in addition to the implementation of a comprehensive and judicious external quality control. / Doutor

Aim The burden of cervical cancer in Sri Lanka is high and research is limited. The objective was to describe the knowledge of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), cervical cancer and its cytological screening, as well as worry of HPV and attitudes towards and practices of screening among undergraduate students at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2015 at Rajarata University, using a self-administrated questionnaire containing socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP). Male and female undergraduates, 18-30 years, were eligible. Knowledge was assessed by a numerical sum score ranging from 0 to 13, with 13 as maximum. Analyses were performed using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results 326 students answered the questionnaire that revealed limited knowledge on cervical cancer, HPV and screening, with a mean score of 5.34 (SD 3.33). Knowledge was higher among older, medical students in the fifth year, however there was a high correlation between these variables. Knowledge was lower among management students. Most students were uncertain about the questions in the attitude section. A majority of students would be worried if they got infected with HPV. Screening practices were low (0.45 %). Approximately half of the women would consider cytological screening in the future. Conclusion The limited knowledge, low screening practices and high worry imply a need for information and awareness programs. Further research is needed in order to fully understand the delicacy of this public health threat for Sri Lankan women.

Background Screening by cytology has been highly effective in reducing the incidence and mortality from squamous invasive cervical cancer (ICC), but the effectiveness is less established regarding non-squamous ICC and regarding women above screening ages and below 30 years of age. Cervical cancer still occurs despite the presence of an organised screening programme. A substantial proportion of screened women with ICC are reported to have had previous abnormal cytology findings. The significance of negative cytology with limited evaluation is not quite determined, the most effective management of women with low-grade abnormalities is controversial, and evaluation of long-term effect of different treatment methods is limited. Aims To identify possible areas of improvements in the prevention of cervical cancer by evaluating the effectiveness of the Swedish cervical screening programme, and by exploring risk factors for ICC in the cytological screening histories and in the management of women with abnormal cytology findings. Methods The screening histories of all ICC cases in Sweden 1999-2001 (n=1230) and of five population-based control women per case were reviewed, using data from the Swedish Cancer Registry, the national population register, the Swedish national cervical screening quality register, histopathological reports and questionnaires to clinicians. The risk of cervical cancer according to screening histories 0.5-6.5 years before cancer diagnosis was estimated as odds ratios (ORs) in logistic regression models with 95% confidence interval (CI) (Paper I). Risk related to different cytological reports was assessed in women below 67 years of age with cytology (n=572, n=3569) in Paper II. The initial follow-up of women with abnormal or unsatisfactory cytology reports (n=159, n=258) was evaluated in Paper III, and further investigation and treatment of abnormalities (n=143 cases, n=176 controls) in Paper IV. Results The cancer cases were above screening ages (31%), had not been screened according to recommendations (33%), had negative cytology (23%), or had previous positive screening tests (13%). No screening within the recommended interval increased the risk of squamous (OR 2.97, 95% CI 2.51-3.50) as well as non-squamous cancer (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.20-2.11), and increased the risk in all ages. Negative cytology with partially obscuring factors and unsatisfactory cytology increased the risk of subsequent early stage ICC. All cytological abnormalities increased the risk of ICC, and women with glandular atypia or atypia in cells of uncertain origin carried a particularly high risk (OR 11.69, 95% CI 7.02-19.46). After a low-grade squamous abnormal smear finding, further investigation with biopsy was more effective than repeated cytology (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.24-0.89). Lack of biopsy increased the risk in women with both low-grade and high-grade squamous abnormalities. Neither repeat cytology, nor biopsy, decreased the risk in women with glandular atypia or atypia in cells of uncertain origin. Treatment decreased the risk, even when the biopsy before treatment was negative or showed low-grade atypia only. Ablative therapy was less effective than excision and laser conisation was the most effective therapy. Conclusions Improved adherence to screening recommendations and including older women at increased risk in the programme would have significant cancer preventive gains. Women with negative cytology with limited evaluation and with unsatisfactory cytology may need further evaluation. Assessment with biopsy should be recommended for women with low-grade as well as high-grade squamous abnormalities. The diagnosing of precancer lesions and the identification of women in need of treatment warrant improvements, in particular in cases of glandular or “other” atypia in cytology. Treatment techniques need further evaluation.