Preface by the UICC Detection and Diagnosis Program Chairman

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the only lesion that can be cost-effectively detected and prevented by mass screening. No other disease is as easily recognized by cytologic techniques; is as well established in its cytomorphology of invasive and preinvasive stages; as conveniently accessible by the physician; as thoroughly understood in its biologic behavior, etiology and prognosis; and as inexpensive to detect by mass screening. Given these favorable criteria, it would seem possible to eradicate this lesion, a major killer of women, if all women underwent periodic examination and the examinations were properly conducted and evaluated. The frequency of screening examinations should be determined by the socioeconomic situation and other factors in different geographic areas, but even a single cytologic examination in a woman's lifetime would significantly affect the prevalence of this disease.

Miklos Bodo, M.D., Sc.D., F.I.A.C.
Chair, UICC Detection and Diagnosis Program
Co-Chair, IAC-UICC Liaison Committee
Professor and Dean, Medical Faculty
Postgraduate Medical University
Budapest, Hungary