Abstract
The screening for cervical cancer through diagnostic cytology is one of the few effective diagnostic methods for the detection of cancer proven by actual practice and has contributed to the lowering of the fatality rate of cervical cancer. However due to social changes, there have been a number of new problems made evident in the established examination system. We mention in particular, the drop in the detection rate of cervical cancer in an aging society. On the one hand there is an undeniable increase in cervical can-cers and precancerous lesions in the younger ages. These increases are undoubtedly the result of the development of cervical cancer being closely related to HPV infection increasing in step with increases in the sexual behaviors and activities of today's younger ages. The 2nd problem is the increase in self sampling specimens as a method of examination and diagnosis of cervical cancer. The problem of ambiguity or lack of precise accuracy in the self sampling specimen has often been pointed out but with less patient opposition to the method and its simplicity acting in its favor, in Tokyo its increase has doubled in a 5 year period. The self sampling specimens involving a low number of cells and a high rate in degenerative cells are very obvious problematic shortcomings in a cell diagnosis method. However when HPV is detected from specimens, the results compare well with the results obtained by medical institutions from specimens taken by medical doctors. To use HPV for initial screenings, there are a number of problems that yet have to be resolved such as cost effectiveness, etc. However if at least self sampling of specimens for examination are to be adopted for detection of cervical cancer, the adoption at the same time of commencing HPV tests may provide the trigger to a movement towards the adoption of institutional examination.
