The class aims to demonstrate how the study of the epidemiology and the pathogenetic mechanisms of a specific tumor (such as cervical cancer) can have important diagnostic and clinical implications in the field of prevention (population screening) in early diagnosis (early mechanisms of neoplastic transformation and preneoplastic lesions) and in advances in the treatment of this tumor
Course Prerequisites
no prior knowledge is required
Teaching Methods
The course follows an interdisciplinary approach, aimed at the direct involvement of students and makes use of: Classic frontal lessons Study and critical analysis of protocols used for cytological and molecular analyzes
Assessment Methods
Written exam (two hours) using Multiple choice questions aimed at assessing the accuracy and rigor in the study and Open questions aimed at verifying: the ability to discursively organize knowledge, the ability to reason critically on the study carried out, the quality of the exposure
Contents
Cancer of the uterine cervix: etiopathogenesis and methods of prevention. The pap smear: Traditional smear and thin layer. Nomenclature for cervicovaginal cytology reporting: Bethesda system. HPV infection and tests for viral diagnosis and typing. The new screening model for cervical cancer. Comparison of molecular methods for HPV test. External quality controls. Vaccines and vaccination in Italy.
