Lower protection of cytological screening for adenocarcinomas and shorter protection for younger women: the results of a case-control study in Florence

The efficacy of cytological screening in preventing adenocarcinoma of cervix uteri as compared to squamous cell cancer has been evaluated by means of a case - control study in the province of Florence. The odds ratios of women who had a Pap test within the 3 years before the index date was 0.65 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 - 1.64) and 0.15 ( 95% CI 0.07 - 0.31), for adenocarcinoma and squamous cancer, respectively. The duration of the protective effect was shorter in women below the age of 40 years than in older women.