Daniel Miller

Health disparities in cervical cancer: Prevalence of high‐risk HPV and cytologic diagnoses according to race

BackgroundIn the United States, the rate of cervical cancer is disproportionally higher in Hispanic and Black women compared with White women. In the current study, the authors compared human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and cytology results among Black and White women over a 24‐month period. They then assessed the rates in young women in 2011 compared with 2017 according to race.MethodsThe authors searched the gynecologic cytology case files for Black and White women treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital across all ages for a period of 24 months (2017‐2019) and compared HPV results and cytologic interpretations. They then compared results among Black and White cohorts of young women (aged 21‐29 years) in 2011 versus 2017.ResultsA total of 26,302 specimens from January 2017 to January 2019, including 11,676 Black women and 14,626 White women, were reviewed. The most common HPV genotype(s) detected were non–HPV‐16 and/or HPV‐18 (non‐16/18) high‐risk HPV (hrHPV) (84% of positive results). Non‐16/18 hrHPV was more common in Black women (1309 women; 15%) compared with White women (1075 women; 9%). Non‐16/18 hrHPV was more commonly observed in association with atypical squamous cells, cannot rule out high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and/or high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC‐H/HSIL) in HPV‐positive Black women compared with White women (P = .007). Black women were found to have higher rates of HPV‐positive Papanicolaou results and high‐grade lesions, including carcinoma (P < .01). In the 2011 cohort, young Black women were found to have a higher rate of ASC‐H/HSIL (P = .003) compared with White women. However, the difference was not noted in the 2017 cohort. There was a decrease in ASC‐H/HSIL in 2017 compared with 2011, with a lower incidence of ASC‐H/HSIL noted among Black women in 2017.ConclusionsBlack women appear to have a higher incidence of higher grade lesions, but the difference between Black and White cohorts was not found to be significant in young women in more recent years.

Risk Assessment of Human Papillomavirus–Positive Cytology-Negative Cervical Cancer Screening in Black and White Women

Abstract Objectives As we move toward human papillomavirus (HPV) only as the preferred cervical cancer screening method, we performed a retrospective analysis of Black and White women with negative cytology (Papanicolaou negative [PAPneg]) and positive high-risk HPV (hrHPV) (HPVpos) results and determined follow-up. Methods We searched our pathology data system for patients with PAPneg/HPVpos results (2017-2019). Follow-up data were reviewed (39 months), and a comparison among race was performed. Results In total, 1,728 patients were identified (Black, 53%; White, 47%). Twenty-nine percent of the patients had no follow-up with no difference among the races. HPV 16 was more common among Whites (P < .01), while non-16/18 hrHPV was more common among Black patients (P = .01). A total of 30 (3.3%) Black and 26 (3.2%) White patients were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 (CIN 2/3). More White women were diagnosed on biopsy alone (negative endocervical curettage) compared with Black women (20 vs 9, P < .01). Meanwhile, there were 21 Black and 6 White women with CIN 2/3 on endocervical curettage (P = .01). Conclusions Follow-up of women with PAPneg/HPVpos remains a challenge. There was no disparity in follow-up when cohorts were compared. However, Black women had higher numbers of high-grade intraepithelial lesions on endocervical curettage.