Cancers can be detected as precursor lesions or subtle to significant changes in the cells of organ before the obvious cancer disease occurrence or progression. Such abnormal cells may be the first signs of cancer that develops years later. Cancer cervix is one such easily detectable in its pre-cancerous stage by PAP SMEAR.
Precision of diagnosis improves if cervix and vagina inspected by colposcope which provides highly magnified view to detect any precancer spots if exists.
HPV testing evaluates infection by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is most important reason for cancer cervix