Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38081959›Full record

ArticleArchives of gynecology and obstetrics2024

The use of colposcopy for triage in HPV-positive women aged 65 years and older.

E Kuenkel, A Jaeger, I Bohlmann, F Bergauer, C Kuehler-Obbarius, K Prieske, K Maass-Poppenhusen, B Schmalfeldt, L Woelber

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 27% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Cervical cancer screening strategies in women 65 years and older in the human papillomavirus era: A systematic review and meta-analysis of human papillomavirus-based testing and self-sampling approaches.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Observational
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

E KuenkelDysplasia Unit Women's Practice Heussweg, Frauenarztpraxis und Dysplasie-Einheit Heussweg, Heussweg 37, 20255, Hamburg, Germany. kuenkel@praxis-heussweg.de.ORCID 0009-0005-1134-4903
A JaegerDepartment of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
I BohlmannDysplasia Munich, Nymphenburger Str. 77, 80636, Munich, Germany.
F BergauerDysplasia Munich, Nymphenburger Str. 77, 80636, Munich, Germany.
C Kuehler-ObbariusDysplasia Unit Women's Practice Heussweg, Frauenarztpraxis und Dysplasie-Einheit Heussweg, Heussweg 37, 20255, Hamburg, Germany.
K PrieskeDepartment of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
K Maass-PoppenhusenDepartment of Gynecology, University Hospital Campus Kiel, Arnold Heller Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
B SchmalfeldtDepartment of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
L WoelberDepartment of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Universität Hamburg · DEMSH Medical School Hamburg – University of Applied Sciences and Medical University · DEPrussian Cultural Heritage Foundation · DEUniversity Hospital Schleswig-Holstein · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePersistent high-risk HPV infection is associated with an elevated risk for prevalent CIN II + despite normal cytology (NILM). Our study aims to evaluate the clinical relevance of a persistent high-risk HPV infection without cytologic changes in women aged ≥ 65 and to determine the role of colposcopy for triage in these cases.

methods211 patients aged ≥ 65 with persistent HPV infection and normal cytology (NILM) who presented for colposcopy at five certified centers between January 2021 and April 2022 were included in the study. Colposcopic findings, HPV subtypes, when available, histology and p16/Ki67 staining were assessed as well as individual risk factors such as smoking and previous HPV-related surgery.

results87.7% (185/211) of the included women had a type 3 transformation zone. In 83.4% (176/211), a biopsy was taken [thereof 163 endocervical curettages (ECC)]. In 35/211 women (16.6%), sampling was not possible during colposcopy due to an inaccessible cervix, pain during examination or obliteration of the cervical canal. Out of these, 6 women received a diagnostic excision. CIN II + was detected in 10.6% of all histologies (excisional or biopsy) (20/182). 50% of the women with a CIN II + where HPV 16 positive. Taking only the women diagnosed with CIN III or AIS into account, (n = 12) 75% were HPV 16 positive. Interestingly, 80% of the women with CIN II + had an abnormal cytology when repeatedly taken during colposcopy, vice versa an endocervical lesion was diagnosed in 53% of women with abnormal repeat cytology (27/51).

conclusionThe prevalence of CIN II + in women is ≥ 65 with persistent hr HPV infection but NILM cytology is similar to that in younger women. However, more than 85% of the women have a type 3 transformation zone. Colposcopy is, therefore, not helpful to diagnose the women who need treatment in this age group.

Indexed as

Papillomavirus InfectionsUterine Cervical DysplasiaUterine Cervical NeoplasmsColposcopyFemaleHumansPapillomaviridaePregnancyTriageElderlyHPV persistenceNILMTriage

Identifiers

PMID38081959
PMCPMC10894107
OpenAlexW4389550074

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.