This was a diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study conducted at an Egyptian teaching hospital, where 784 women were offered Papanicolaou test, VIA, colposcopy, and cervical biopsy.
RESULTS: Histopathologically confirmed CIN 2/3 was noted in 26 cases (3.3%) and
cervical cancer in 3 cases (0.4%). Twenty-seven (93.1%) of these 29 cases of CIN 2+, including one invasive
cancer, were suggested by VIA. The test sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) to detect CIN 2+ were 93.1%, 90.6%, 26.6%, and 99.7%, respectively. Positive likelihood ratio (LR +) and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) for VIA were 9.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.77-12.62) and 0.08 (95% CI, 0.02-0.29), respectively. Twenty-six cases (89.7%) of CIN 2+ were suggested by Papanicolaou test, whereas all 3
cancers were missed by this test. Papanicolaou test sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV to detect CIN 2+ were 89.7%, 99.1%, 78.8%, and 99.6%, respectively. Positive likelihood ratio and LR- for the Papanicolaou test were 96.7 (95% CI, 45.78-204.23) and 0.10 (95% CI, 0.04-0.3), respectively. Colposcopy suggested 28 cases (96.6%) of CIN 2+, including 2
cancers. Colposcopy sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV to detect CIN 2+ were 96.6%, 99.2%, 82.4%, and 99.9%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Visual inspection of the cervix with
acetic acid is a feasible and suitable screening test for
cervical cancer in under-resourced settings in developing countries. Its performance is comparable to the Papanicolaou test.