Aims and background: Until 1998 there was opportunistic screening in Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG). Beginning in 1999, formal screening efforts were organized. The regional cancer registry was established in 1998, and data on incidence was collected for the period 1995-98. The scope of this study is to provide baseline data on the incidence of invasive cervical cancer in FVG for further examination of trends in incidence and of the effectiveness of screening efforts.
Methods: Data from the regional cancer registry database was examined and linked with data from the regional pap smear screening database.
Results: The incidence of cervical cancer in FVG was 8.6 per 100,000. Most women were diagnosed in stages I and II. Most cervical cancers (80%) were squamous cell. Opportunistic screening in FVG reached 39.8% of the total female population. Analysis by local health unit showed heterogeneous data.
Conclusions: FVG has one of the highest incidence rates of cervical cancer in Italy. Approximately 1/3 of the diagnoses were in women over the age of 65. Pap smear screening prior to the formal program covered a low percentage of the female population. Screening efforts in the future should focus on screening coverage in the older female population.