A cone biopsy is an extensive form of a cervical biopsy. It is called a cone biopsy because a cone-shaped wedge of tissue is removed from the cervix and examined under a microscope. A cone biopsy removes abnormal tissue that is high in the cervical canal. A small amount of normal tissue around the cone-shaped wedge of abnormal tissue is also removed so that a margin free of abnormal cells is left in the cervix.
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A new rapid test for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer, has proven to be 90 percent accurate in a trial involving women in rural villages in eastern China.
The findings were published in The Lancet Oncology, and researchers said it could help pave the way for effective screening to prevent cervical cancer in rural and resource-poor settings.
The rapid test, careHPV, is a product of Qiagen NV and was designed to detect 14 high-risk types of HPV in about 2.5 hours. It can be operated by staff with minimal training and without any running water.
WASHINGTON – Merck & Co’s Gardasil vaccine remains safe and effective for protecting women and girls from a virus that causes cervical cancer, U.S. officials said on Tuesday after reviewing thousands of reports of health problems.
Consumers, doctors and others have raised questions about Gardasil’s safety but the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the most serious adverse events did not appear linked to the vaccine.
“Based on the review of available information by FDA and CDC, Gardasil continues to be safe and effective, and its benefits continue to outweigh its risks,” a statement said.
The Government is considering giving more than a million women aged between 19 and 24 the option of having the jab against the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Routine vaccinations against HPV are already being offered to schoolgirls aged 12 to 13 from next month despite claims from some parents it will "sexualise" them at a young age.
The virus is primarily passed on through sexual contact, meaning it must be administered before girls become sexually active to provide optimum protection. However, critics fear it could lead to sexual promiscuity among teenagers who believe they are protected.
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) — An expensive vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer makes sense for young teens when it comes to cost-effectiveness, but not for women in their 20s, contends a new report.
Health officials recommended the cervical cancer vaccine for girls at age 11 or 12, but older women can get it too.
The vaccine against the HPV virus was licensed in 2006 for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26. Health officials recommend it for girls at age 11 or 12, and some doctors offer it to women in their 20s in “catch-up” vaccination campaigns. Read more
