Addressing high cervical cancer rates in the Rio Grande Valley along the Texas-Mexico border: a community-based initiative focused on education, patient navigation, and medical provider training/telementoring.

AIMS: Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are approximately 55% higher in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) along the Texas-Mexico border compared with the average rates in the US. Our aim was to improve cervical cancer prevention efforts in the RGV through a comprehensive multilevel intervention initiative focused on community education, patient navigation, and training of local providers. METHODS: We initiated a program in the RGV which consisted of (1) community education, (2) patient navigation, and (3) a training/mentoring program for local medical providers including hands-on training courses coupled with telementoring using Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Health Outcomes). We assessed the number of women undergoing cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment at three participating clinics caring for underserved women in the region. RESULTS: From November 2014 to October 2018, 14,846 women underwent cervical cancer screening. A total of 2030 (13.7%) women underwent colposcopy for abnormal results (179% increase over baseline) and 453 women underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEPs) for treatment of cervical dysplasia. Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 39 women who were navigated to a gynecologic oncologist for treatment. Seven local medical providers were trained to perform colposcopy and/or LEEP. Project ECHO telementoring videoconferences were held every 2 weeks for a total 101 sessions with an average of 22 participants per session and a total of 180 patient cases presented and discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Our program led to a large number of women undergoing diagnosis and treatment of cervical dysplasia in the RGV. If sustained, we anticipate these efforts will decrease cervical cancer rates in the region. The program is currently being expanded to additional underserved areas of Texas and globally to low- and middle-income countries.

Perspectives on cervical cancer screening and prevention: challenges faced by providers and patients along the Texas-Mexico border.

BACKGROUND: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and Laredo regions located along the Texas-Mexico border consist of seven counties with a population of approximately 1.5 million people and a high uninsured rate (33.5%). Cervical cancer mortality in these border counties is approximately 30% higher than the rest of Texas. The RGV and Laredo areas were studied to better understand the state of access to cervical cancer prevention services along the Texas-Mexico border. METHODS: Data on the population served and the services provided were analyzed to determine the gap between cervical cancer screenings recommended versus those received. Through interviews, we gathered the perspectives of 16 local stakeholders regarding cervical cancer screening for underserved individuals in the region. FINDINGS: It is estimated that 69,139 uninsured women aged 21-64 years in the RGV/Laredo per year are recommended to undergo cervical cancer screening with Papanicolaou (Pap) and/or human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, but only 8941 (12.9%) Pap tests are being performed by the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving uninsured women in these regions. Systemic barriers identified include insufficient provider clinical capacity, the high cost of healthcare, and uncertainty about government funding sources. Patient barriers identified include inadequate knowledge on navigating the local healthcare system, low health literacy, lack of money and childcare, an inability to miss work, limited transportation, and fear of deportation. CONCLUSION: Decreasing the disparity between cervical cancer screening services provided and those recommended requires addressing the barriers, identified by local experts, which prevent uninsured women from accessing care. These challenges are being addressed through ongoing programs and collaborations.

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN 2/3): comparing clinical outcomes and evaluating risk factors for recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the development of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN 2/3), and factors associated with recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 303 patients with VIN 2/3 evaluated at a single institution between 1993 and 2011 was performed. Medical records were reviewed for demographic information, risk factors, treatment type, pathologic diagnosis, and recurrence/outcome information. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 47 years (range 14-87). 40% of patients reported current tobacco use and 26% reported previous use. Primary treatment included excision (n=176, 59%), laser ablation (n=40, 13%), imiquimod (n=22, 7.4%), excision with laser (n=24, 8.1%), excision with imiquimod (n=10, 3.4%), and laser with imiquimod (n=3, 1.0%). 92 patients (62.6%) were noted to have positive margins, which was associated with larger tumor size (p=0.004). 87 patients (28.7%) developed recurrent disease, which was associated with smoking (p<0.001), larger lesion size (p=0.016), and positive margins (p=0.005). On univariate analysis, higher rates of recurrence were associated with laser ablation (45.0%) compared with excision (26%) or imiquimod (13.6%) (p=0.018). However, on multivariate analysis of recurrence-free survival (RFS) these therapies were equivalent when used individually, but the use of excision plus laser had an adverse impact on RFS (p<0.001). 7 patients (2.3%) recurred with invasive disease a median of 109 months (range 12-327) from initial VIN 2/3 diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This large cohort of women with VIN 2/3 further delineates the demographic and clinical factors associated with VIN 2/3. High rates of recurrence were noted and found to be associated with smoking, larger lesion size, and positive margins. While higher rates of recurrence were found among those treated with laser ablation, it was not inferior with respect to RFS when used alone, but the use of laser with excision was associated with decreased RFS. Our findings provide hypothesis-generating material for further research in the management of VIN2/3.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and tropical spastic paraparesis or HTLV-I-associated myelopathy in Hawaii.

Tropical spastic paraparesis or human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy is a degenerative encephalomyelopathy with pyramidal tract dysfunction affecting the lower extremities. It is associated with HTLV-I infection and found primarily in the Caribbean region and in southwestern Japan. Five cases of tropical spastic paraparesis (or HTLV-I-associated myelopathy) in Hawaii are reported. All five patients were born in Hawaii; four are women. Each of the patients has parents who were from HTLV-I-endemic areas of Japan. Two of these patients had serum antibodies to HTLV-I. Five of six of the spouses and children of the seropositive patients were also seropositive. Viral cultures of lymphocytes from both seropositive patients and two of the three seropositive children were positive for HTLV-I. None of the five patients had a history of antecedent blood transfusion, multiple sexual partners, or intravenous drug use. There is no evidence of adult T-cell leukemia or lymphoma in any of the patients or their families. Given the increasing seroprevalence of HTLV-I in the United States, clinicians need to be alert to new cases of this disorder.

The polymerase chain reaction and its applications.

The advent of recombinant DNA technology has brought us many new techniques for the detection of genetic defects. With these methods it has become possible to do prenatal screening of the DNA of fetuses and to detect genetic defects that would lead to congenital disease. The biggest problem facing researchers has been the limited sensitivity of the techniques of molecular biology especially in detecting small changes in the DNA.