Having this type of virus puts a woman at increased risk for cervical cancer, but does not necessarily mean that she will get cancer. Low risk types are rarely, if ever found in cervical cancer and are more likely to be linked to genital warts or other non-cancer related infections. A Worldwide carcinoma of the cervix is the second most common malignancy in women, accounting for approximately 15,700 new cases and 4,900 deaths in the United States each year. However, a Pap smear cannot be relied upon to detect all HPV infections because it is not designed specifically to detect HPV DNA . Despite its contribution to the decreased incidence of cervical cancer, cytology has shortcomings that cause both false negative and false positive results, leading to missed disease or to unnecessary patient anxiety and over-treatment.
Cytology is complex, requiring intense visual review of cells.
The technique is subjective and plagued by inter- and intraobserver variability. Incorrect or poor sampling can lead to false negative or inconclusive results. Aggressive cancers can occur between screening intervals. The Pap smear is only a snapshot of the present condition of the cervix. Two-thirds of preventable cervical cancers occur in women who have not had a Pap test in at least five years.