A large cross-sectional survey investigating the knowledge of cervical cancer risk aetiology and the predictors of the adherence to cervical cancer screening related to mass media campaign.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the characteristics of women who got a Pap-test during the mass media campaign, carried out in an Italian region by broadcasts advertising, and two years later and to identify the determinants of knowledge of cervical cancer etiology and of the adherence to the mass media campaign.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out through a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: A total of 8570 randomly selected women were surveyed, 823 of these had a Pap-test during the mass media campaign period and 7747 two years later.

Screening for cervical cancer precursors with p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology: results of the PALMS study.

Background: Pap cytology is known to be more specific but less sensitive than testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) for the detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+). We assessed whether p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology, a biomarker combination indicative of transforming HPV infections, can provide high sensitivity for CIN2+ in screening while maintaining high specificity. Results were compared with Pap cytology and HPV testing.

[Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators, 2010 activity].

Italian national guidelines recommend to regions the implementation of organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in previous years since 1998 we collected aggregated tables of data from Italian organised cervical screening programmes in order to centrally compute process indicators. Data on women invited during 2010 and screened up to April 2011 were considered.

[Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), cervical cancer incidence and screening uptake: differences among Northern, Central and Southern Italy].

Objective: this article presents a review of evidences about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer in Italy, highlighting geographical differences.

Design: two systematic reviews recently published were updated, one collecting studies on the prevalence of HPV types in Italy in the general population and the other collecting prevalence of HPV types in cervical pathologic samples.The search was updated to 31.

Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators, 2009 activity.

Italian national guidelines recommend to regions the implementation of organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in previous years since 1998, we collected from Italian organised cervical screening programmes aggregated tables of data in order to centrally compute process indicators. Data on women invited during 2009 and screened up to April 2010 were considered.

Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators: 2008 activity.

Italian national guidelines recommend to Regions the implementation of organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in previous years since 1998, we collected from Italian organised cervical screening programmes aggregated tables of data in order to centrally compute process indicators. Data on women invited during 2008 and screened up to April 2009 were considered.

Distribution of high and low risk HPV types by cytological status: a population based study from Italy.

Background: HPV type distribution by cytological status represents useful information to predict the impact of mass vaccination on screening programs.

Methods: women aged from 25 to 64 who attended cervical cancer screening in five different Italian regions were tested for HPV infection with Hybrid Capture II (HCII) low and high risk probes. Women repeating Pap-test upon unsatisfactory or positive results, or as a post-treatment and post-colposcopy follow-up analysis, were excluded from our study.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus types in high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer in Italy.

Background: The aim of this multicentric study was to identify human papillomavirus (HPV) type distribution in invasive cervical cancer and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 (CIN2/3) in Italy.

Methods: Cases were sampled through the electronic databases at the pathology units of eight centers in six regions from central and southern Italy. HPV types were detected from paraffin-embedded tissue samples and cervical specimens through amplification of HPV DNA with GP5+/GP6+ primers, followed by genotyping with reverse line blot (RLB).

Prevalence of HPV high and low risk types in cervical samples from the Italian general population: a population based study.

Background: This multicenter study describes the type-specific prevalence of HPV infection in the general population from central and southern Italy, comparing the data with previously published Italian studies.

Methods: Women aged from 25 to 65 who attended cervical cancer screening in five different Italian regions were tested for HPV infection with Hybrid Capture II (HCII) low and high risk probes. Women repeating Pap-test upon unsatisfactory or positive results, or as a post-treatment and post-colposcopy follow-up analysis, were excluded from our study.

Comparison of the conventional cervical smear and liquid-based cytology: results of a controlled, prospective study in the Abruzzo Region of Italy.

Objective: To compare conventional cervical testing (CCT) and liquid-based cytology (LBC) within a randomized trial performed during 2001-2002 in the Abruzzo Region of Italy, including a cost-outcome comparative analysis.

Study Design: Study subjects were recruited in the framework of a controlled, randomized study organized in the Abruzzo Region. Women aged 2 6-64 years were randomized to an active arm (LBC) or control arm (CC1).

Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators.

Since 1996, Italian national guidelines recommend that Regions implement organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in previous years since 1998, we have collected from Italian organised cervical screening programmes aggregated tables of data in order to centrally compute process indicators. In 2006, the target population of Italian organised screening programmes included 11,362,580 women, corresponding to 69% of Italian women aged 25-64 years.

Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators.

Since 1996, Italian national guidelines have recommended to regions the implementation of organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in the previous years, starting from 1998, we collected aggregated tables of data from Italian organised cervical screening programmes in order to centrally compute process indicators. In 2005, the target population of Italian organised screening programmes included 10,969,571 women, corresponding to 66.

Activity level and process indicators of organised programmes for cervical cancer screening in Italy.

The target population of Italian organised cervical screening programmes that were active (that invited at least 1000 women) in 2004 was 10,206,741 women, corresponding to 64% of the Italian female population in the 25-64 year age range. This proportion was 66%, 83% and 49% in Northern, Central, and Southern Italy respectively. Some 27% of this target population was invited during 2004.