Resumen

CASTRO-JIMENEZ, Miguel Ángel; VERA-CALA, Lina María  y  POSSO-VALENCIA, Héctor Jaime. Epidemiology of cancer of the uterine cervix: state of the art. Rev Colomb Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2006, vol.57, n.3, pp. 182-189. ISSN 0034-7434.

This review was aimed at summarising the current state of knowledge about cervical cancer using epidemiological information. Invasive cervical cancer is a potentially preventable disease involving a disproportionate burden in developing countries (83.1% of cases and 85.5% of deaths). Women&#;s pap smear histories are related to the risk of subsequent cervical cancer. Herpes simplex virus type 2 and other infectious agents have been evaluated in causality studies related to cervical cancer; however, only some types of human papillomavirus have been shown to fulfill the criteria of causality. Clinical factors change survival rates.

Palabras llave : cervical carcinoma; epidemiology; prognosis; human papillomavirus.