Global Cervical Cancer Incidence by Histological Subtype and Implications for Screening Methods

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Global Health

Background:

• Cervical cancer is a significant global health issue, particularly impacting women in developing nations.
• Two main subtypes, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC), have different characteristics and screening efficacies.
• Understanding subtype incidence is vital for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the global incidence of cervical cancer stratified by histological subtype (SCC and AC).
• To provide data that can inform and refine global cervical cancer prevention and screening efforts.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from population-based cancer registries worldwide.
• Calculated incidence rates for SCC, AC, and other histologies by country and age group.
• Applied subtype proportions to Global Cancer Observatory 2020 estimates and computed age-standardized rates.

Main Results:

• SCC represented 82.72% of global cervical cancer cases; AC accounted for 12.18%.
• Highest SCC incidence occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa (29.79/100,000); highest AC incidence was in South-Eastern Asia (3.67/100,000).
• SCC incidence peaked around age 55, while AC incidence plateaued after age 45.

Conclusions:

• SCC is the predominant cervical cancer subtype globally, but AC incidence shows regional variation.
• Findings underscore the necessity for tailored prevention strategies.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is recommended for AC detection in high-burden areas.