Cervical cytology and HPV in cervical cancer screening: Current and future perspectives

Cervical cancer remains a health burden in our country and is the 2nd most common cancer in Indian women. Effective screening can reduce the incidence as well as the morbidity and mortality of this disease. Cervical cytology and the more recent human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA test are the two main pillars of screening. Liquid based cytology has improved the cytological preparations and has shown certain advantages while advancements in molecular techniques for detection of high-risk HPV DNA/RNA has opened up new frontiers. These technological advancements have led to the changes in screening practices and paradigms and are evolving at a rapid pace. This article gives an overview of the screening modalities currently available, the technological advancements, recent updates of the screening guidelines and the future directions.