China cancer diagnosis praised

Doctors perform an operation on a cervical cancer patient in this file photo.   [Photo/CFP]

China was one of the countries with the highest level of accuracy in detecting cervical cancer, according to recent joint research carried out by the UK and China.

The study, which was led by Queen Mary University of London with co-authors from the Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, revealed that, with the use of liquid-based cytology, hospitals in China were able to detect cervical cancers at an accuracy of 96 percent, even among women showing no symptoms.

The results were obtained by looking at cytology tests for 717 cervical cancers from 23 studies in 14 low- and middle-income countries, including China.

Corresponding author Alejandra Castanon, from QMUL, said: "Cytology has long been established as an excellent screening tool to prevent cervical cancer by detecting precancerous lesions. However, little research has been carried out regarding its sensitivity to cancer."

Jasmine Just, Cancer Research UK's health information officer, said: "This study shows that the cervical screening test can perform effectively in low- and middle-income countries, and in women who are at higher risk. But we need more information about whether these cancers are being picked up at an early stage or whether women are more likely to survive."

In China, cervical cancer is the second most-common cancer among women aged between 15 and 44 and the seventh most-common cause of cancer death in women, with nearly 30,000 fatalities per year. Zhao Fanghui, deputy director of the Department of Cancer Epidemiology at the Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said the studies have shown that technology updates and strict quality control enable cytology to play an important role in cervical cancer screening.

But Zhao said: "Cytology requires the establishment of a high-quality screening system and well-trained technicians, the shortage of which usually limits the implementation of cytology in most developing countries."

The researchers confirmed restricting cytology to symptomatic women and referring only those with severe lesions would lead to fewer women requiring further investigation, which would reduce the burden on resources and cost, resulting in the diagnosis of more cancers at an earlier stage and improved survival rates. Taking a small cluster of cells to diagnose disease before it progresses to cancer is extremely effective. But in poorer countries, a lack of infrastructure and quality management has hampered its widespread implementation.