A Comprehensive Review of Cervical Cancer Screening Devices: The Pros and the Cons

Area of Science:

• Gynecology and Public Health
• Medical Device Innovation
• Cancer Prevention

Background:

• Low cervical cancer screening coverage and patient reluctance result in late-stage diagnoses and poor survival rates.
• Addressing these barriers is crucial for improving outcomes in cervical cancer prevention.
• Current screening methods face challenges in uptake and accessibility.

Approach:

• A comprehensive review of cervical cancer screening devices for Pap smear, visual inspection (VIA/VILI), and HPV DNA self-tests.
• Evaluation of devices based on functionality, performance, cell collection efficacy, and accuracy.
• Inclusion of devices from market availability, research articles, and patent databases.

Key Points:

• Reviewed devices simplify screening procedures, enhancing clinical efficiency and accuracy.
• Innovations focus on reducing patient pain and discomfort during screening.
• Some devices achieve both procedural simplification and improved patient experience.

Conclusions:

• Numerous devices have been developed to enhance cervical cancer screening procedures.
• These advancements hold the potential to significantly increase screening test uptake.
• Wider adoption of improved devices can support screening campaigns and reduce cervical cancer incidence.