MAVARIC – a comparison of automation-assisted and manual cervical screening: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

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Health Technology Assessment of Computer-Assisted Pap Test Screening in Italy

“…Despite the fact that relevant studies [13,17,18,27,28,29,30] have been published since the last European guidelines, our previous conclusion did not change: we consider the two techniques as equivalent in terms of efficacy.…”

“…Regarding the efficacy of computer cytology, we updated the review reported in the EU guidelines [10] and founded 6 new relevant studies: 4 trials [13,17,18,27,28] and 2 double testing studies [29,30]. The latter group of studies compared computer-assisted LBC versus conventional manual Pap smear; no differences were reported (both the techniques identified all the 9 high-grade lesions) in one study [30] and a 19% increase in detection rate was reported in the other [29].…”

“…One trial study found an increase in sensitivity [27], while 2 others (one with a small sample size [28] and the other with more than 450,000 randomized women [13]) found no differences in sensitivity. Finally, the MAVARIC trial [17,18] reported an 8% loss in sensitivity when using the computer-assisted Pap test, regardless of the instrument used, when compared to the manual procedure. Interestingly, three quarters of the errors were due to misinterpretation of correctly identified FOVs [17].…”

“…Finally, the MAVARIC trial [17,18] reported an 8% loss in sensitivity when using the computer-assisted Pap test, regardless of the instrument used, when compared to the manual procedure. Interestingly, three quarters of the errors were due to misinterpretation of correctly identified FOVs [17]. …”

“…Particular consideration was given to health technology assessments conducted in Australia [11], New Zealand [12], and various European states [13,14,15,16], including the recent MAVARIC report [17,18]. All Italian literature on the subject was also acquired [6,19,20,21,22,23,24,25].…”