Journal of Medical Screening

OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer elimination requires high-performance screening tests and high treatment rates, and thus high screening program performance is essential; however, Latin America lacks organized screening and quality assurance (QA) guidelines. We aimed to develop a core set of QA indicators suitable to the region. METHODS: We reviewed QA guidelines from countries/regions with highly organized screening programs and selected 49 indicators for screening intensity, test performance, follow-up, screening outcomes and system capacity...

OBJECTIVES: To inform the development and evaluation of new blood-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests satisfying minimum United States (US) coverage criteria, we estimated the impact of the different test performance characteristics on long-term testing benefits and burdens. METHODS: A novel CRC-Microsimulation of Adenoma Progression and Screening (CRC-MAPS) model was developed, validated, then used to assess different screening tests for CRC. We compared multiple, hypothetical blood-based CRC screening tests satisfying minimum coverage criteria of 74% CRC sensitivity and 90% specificity, to measure how changes in a test's CRC sensitivity, specificity, and adenoma sensitivity (sizes 1-5 mm, 6-9 mm, ≥10 mm) affect total number of colonoscopies (COL), CRC incidence reduction (IR), CRC mortality reduction (MR), and burden-to-benefit ratios (incremental COLs per percentage-point increase in IR or MR)...

As cancer is overtaking cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death among diabetics, improved cancer prevention efforts are needed for individuals with diabetes. In this research letter, we used data from the US National Health Interview Survey to examine the use of screening for two major diabetes-related cancers, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer, in individuals with and without diabetes. We found that individuals with diabetes had slightly higher use of colorectal cancer screening and similar use of breast cancer screening compared to those without diabetes in the US...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop a risk-scoring model in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme incorporating faecal haemoglobin concentration with other risk factors for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Data were collected for all individuals invited to participate in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme between November 2017 and March 2018 including faecal haemoglobin concentration, age, sex, National Health Service Board, socioeconomic status, and screening history...

OBJECTIVES: (a) To estimate the risk of recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 2/3 or worse (CIN2+/CIN3+), lesions within 5 years of follow-up in human papillomavirus-negative/human papillomavirus-positive cohorts; (b) to assess whether certain risk factors can predict the recurrence of CIN2+/CIN3+ lesions; and (c) to provide recommendations for follow-up after treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 2/3 to prevent cervical cancer . SETTING: Organized cervical cancer screening programme in Central Italy...

OBJECTIVE: A rolling circle amplification (RCA) based commercial methodology using cell-free (cf)DNA to screen for common trisomies became available in 2018. Relevant publications documented high detection but with a higher than expected 1% false positive rate. Preliminary evidence suggested assay variability was an issue. A multi-center collaboration was created to explore this further and examine whether subsequent manufacturer changes were effective. METHODS: Three academic (four devices) and two commercial (two devices) laboratories provided run date, chromosome 21, 18, and 13 run-specific standard deviations, number of samples run, and reagent lot identifications...

OBJECTIVES: Despite recommendations to increase the uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, trends in CRC screening vary with sociodemographic status. We aimed to evaluate trends in CRC screening in the US population and subpopulations. METHODS: A total of 1,082,924 participants aged 50 to 75 from five cycles (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020) of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were involved. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to evaluate linear trends in CRC screening utilization from 2012 to 2018...

OBJECTIVES: Hemoglobinopathies are the commonest inherited blood disorders and form a serious burden worldwide, affecting communities, patient quality of life and healthcare resources. The Kingdom of Bahrain has issued a law obligating couples to undergo premarital screening to detect those at risk of having children affected with these disorders. The aim of this study was to analyze the marital decisions of couples at risk for hemoglobinopathies and follow up the outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on couples at risk for hemoglobinopathies identified during the premarital screening program at local health centers in the Kingdom of Bahrain and referred to the genetics department in the Salmaniya Medical Complex for genetic counselling in 2018-2020...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between human papillomavirus vaccination status and participation in cervical cancer screening (at age 25) by the first cohorts of girls who were offered vaccination at the age of 15 to 16 years in Italy. METHODS: Women born in 1993, 1994 and 1995 were invited to participate in cervical cancer screening between 2018 and 2020. We report participation in screening by vaccination status in three large areas, Florence province, Piedmont region and Savona province, where the Consensus Project was carried out...

Many factors need to be considered when planning and managing a screening programme for the early detection of cervical cancer (CC). A non-systematic international review of the organisation of CC screening using high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV-HR) testing, aimed at identifying the organisational methods of these programmes, was conducted with a view to supporting the future of the French system in the context of the transition to HPV-HR testing. In countries where HPV testing has been implemented or planned, the initial reflection process has provided an opportunity to rethink the previous (cytological) screening organisation...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVES: Unconjugated estriol (uE3) is used as a marker for fetal aneuploidy in maternal serum screening tests. The goal of this study was to examine the validity of a new immunoassay for uE3 that uses a monoclonal antibody (m-uE3) rather than the more commonly used polyclonal antibody (p-uE3). SETTING: Assays were performed in the Special Chemistry laboratory at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. METHODS: Residual fresh ( n  = 100) and frozen ( n  = 533) second trimester serum samples from routine clinical care were tested using p-uE3 and/or m-uE3 assays...

OBJECTIVE: To achieve the lung cancer screening (LCS) mortality benefit in clinical trials, timely, real-world follow-up of abnormal test results is necessary. Presently, annual LCS rates are lower than in trials, and adherence to follow-up after suspicious findings has not been well studied. This study examined timely adherence to follow-up recommendations after positive low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screenings. METHODS: This retrospective study included individuals from two academic primary care practices in New York City who met United States Preventative Services Task Force LCS eligibility and had a positive LDCT scan between 2013 and 2020...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second largest cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Current CRC screening in various countries involves stool-based faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) and/or colonoscopy, yet public uptake remains sub-optimal. This review assessed the literature regarding acceptability of alternative CRC screening modalities compared to standard care in average-risk adults. METHOD: Systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane and Web of Science were conducted up to February 3rd , 2022...

OBJECTIVES: Organized breast cancer screening may not achieve its full potential due to organizational and cultural barriers. In Italy, two identified barriers were low attendance in Southern Italy and, in Italy as a whole, underscreening and overscreening in parts of the eligible population. The objective of this study was to identify potential changes to overcome these barriers and to quantify their costs and effects. METHODS: To assess the impact of potential measures to improve breast cancer screening in Italy, we performed an evaluation of costs and effects for increasing adherence for Southern Italy and harmonizing screening intervals (biennial screening) for the whole of Italy, using an online tool (EU-TOPIA evaluation tool) based on the MIcrosimulation SCreening ANalysis (MISCAN) model...

OBJECTIVES: When evaluating potential new cancer screening modalities, estimating sensitivity, especially for early-stage cases, is critical. There are methods to approximate stage-specific sensitivity in asymptomatic populations, both in the prospective (active screening) and retrospective (stored specimens) scenarios. We explored their validity via a simulation study. METHODS: We fit natural history models to lung and ovarian cancer screening data that permitted estimation of stage-specific (early/late) true sensitivity, defined as the probability subjects screened in the given stage had positive tests...

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems for grading of fundus images in diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and the ClinicalTrials.gov from 1st January 2000 to 27th August 2021. Accuracy studies published in English were included if they met the pre-specified inclusion criteria. Selection of studies for inclusion, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by one author with a second reviewer independently screening and checking 20% of titles...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVES: To explore barriers to cervical and colorectal cancer screening and attitudes to promotion of self-sampling kits upon attendance for breast cancer screening. METHODS: Interview study with women who had not responded to one or more invitations to cervical or colorectal cancer screening. A semi-structured interview guide was used and interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Concepts from Temporal Motivation Theory were used to structure and analyse the data...