Epidemiol Prev
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Review Comparative Study
[Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), cervical cancer incidence and screening uptake: differences among Northern, Central and Southern Italy].
this article presents a review of evidences about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer in Italy, highlighting geographical differences. ⋯ cervical cancer incidence is lower in Southern Italy, while the Pap test coverage is much higher in Centre-Northern Italy. This paradox, until now, has been interpreted as a consequence of a lower HPV prevalence in Southern than Northern regions. Recent studies on HPV prevalence do not confirm this hypothesis. Our interpretation is that in Southern Italy we are facing an epidemiologic scenario in transition where the low cancer incidence is the consequence of a low HPV prevalence in the previous decades, but new generations are experiencing a higher prevalence of HPV and will probably have higher risk of cervical cancer. The consequence may be an epidemic of cervical cancer in the next decades, if adequate screening programs are not implemented.