Age‐specific 3‐year cumulative risk of cervical cancer and high‐grade dysplasia on biopsy in 9434 women who underwent HPV cytology cotesting

BACKGROUND: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-Papanicolaou (Pap) cotesting is recommended for cervical cancer screening in women aged >/=30 years. The current study analyzed the effectiveness of cotesting on risk management in different age groups. METHODS: A retrospective review of a 5-year cytology database identified 9434 women with HPV-Pap cotesting and follow-up cervical biopsy. The 3-year cumulative risk of developing high-grade cervical lesions (>/=high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [HSIL]) was analyzed using age stratification. RESULTS: The 3-year cumulative risk of developing >/=HSIL was found to be significantly different in women with baseline cotesting HPV-positive and Pap-positive results (HPV+/Pap+; defined as >/=atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), HPV+ and Pap-negative results, and HPV-negative and Pap+ results at 19.2%, 7.9%, and 3.1%, respectively (P /=HSIL peaked at ages 30 to 39 years and significantly decreased at ages 50 to 59 years (16.6% vs 6.7%; P /=HSIL and is an effective tool for risk stratification. In the current study, the 3-year cumulative risk of developing >/=HSIL varied significantly with age, with the highest risk noted among women aged /=30 years might be considered to include those patients aged <30 years.