Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia and invasive cervical cancer in black and white patients

The relative incidences of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive cervical cancer were studied in black and white patients at the academic hospitals of the University of the Orange Free State. A statistically highly significant difference was found between black and white patients, with a higher incidence of invasive cervical cancer than stage III CIN (CIN III) in black patients and a higher incidence of CIN III than invasive cervical cancer in white patients (P = 0.000092; 95% confidence interval -0.355-(-)0.128). The time interval between the peak incidence of CIN III and that of invasive cervical cancer was found to be shorter in black than in white patients. These distressing findings emphasise the urgent need for a national cervical cytological screening programme to decrease the incidence of invasive cervical cancer. This serious yet preventable disease is still very prevalent in South Africa, especially among black women.