VIA and Cryotherapy: Doing What’s Best
Bandit Chumworathayi MD*, Kobchitt Limpaphayom MD**, Somkeart Srisupundit MD***, Pisake Lumbiganon MD, MS*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen ** Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University *** Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Cervical cancer kills about 6,000 Thai women annually and has been for decades. The age- standardized incidence ratio (ASR) is 20.9 per 100,000 women-years. A multi-province survey by the Thai National Cancer Institute found that coverage of the previous cervical cancer screening program (i.e. the opportunistic Pap smear) was only 5%. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and cryotherapy, a secondary prevention program, could be a more practical approach for cervical cancer prevention, particularly in low resource, rural, and remote settings. The authors are expanding this program throughout Thailand (in conjunction with the use of the Pap smear when appropriate) with an 80% coverage target. Using both approaches in a complementary fashion should significantly reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer among Thai women.
Keywords : VIA and Cryotherapy, Cervical cancer prevention
