Effectiveness of Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) Screening on Cervical Cancer Mortality and Incidence - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Despite being a cheap, easy, and commonly used technique for screening early development of cervical cancer, collective evidence on the effect of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for reducing cervical cancer mortality and incidence are conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness of VIA screening on cervical cancer mortality and incidence. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews & Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), World Health Organization's (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and Google Scholar to identify studies conducted among women with no history of cervical cancer that assessed effectiveness of VIA on the cervical cancer mortality and incidence. Random effects model was used to estimate incident rate ratio and sensitivity analysis was conducted using Bayesian methods. RESULTS: Of the included 4 studies, three were cluster randomized trials from India and one was quasi-experimental study done in Thailand. Duration of follow-up ranged from 7 to 12 years. Based on 3 trials, pooled rate-ratio for cervical cancer mortality and all-cause mortality was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.56-0.81, I2=0%) and 0.91 (0.85-0.97, I2=57%), respectively. Pooled rate-ratio of invasive cervical cancer was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.67 - 1.30, I2=84%). Likewise, there was non-significant reduction in incidence of stage IB, >=stage II, and unknown stage cervical cancer. CONCLUSIONS: VIA screening may lead to reduction in cervical cancer and all-cause mortality in long run. However, the effectiveness of VIA in preventing invasive cervical cancer is inconclusive.

[Diagnostic difficulties and legal analysis of potential claims to occupational medicine specialists based on a case of unrecognizable cardiac angiosarcoma]. / Trudnosci diagnostyczne i analiza prawna potencjalnych roszczen wobec lekarza medycyny pracy na przykladzie nierozpoznanego naczyniakomiesaka serca.

The article presents a case of sudden death of a 56-year-old woman at the workplace, caused by a very rare primary cardiac tumor. The patient's family reported a crime to the prosecutor's office suggesting participation of third parties in causing the death or malpractice in physical examinations before the death. A review of clinical data concerning cardiac angiosarcoma, available in electronic databases (e.g., Web of Science, PubMed), was presented, which could be useful in the practice of occupational medicine specialists. A legal analysis of potential claims to occupational medicine specialist in the case of failure to recognize primary cardiac tumors was also included in the article. Med Pr. 2020;71(6):757-64.