Cervical Cancer: A Comprehensive Review of Etiology, Prevention, and Management

AbstractCervical cancer remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where it isthe fourth most common cancer among women. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the disease, tracing itsetiology, pathogenesis, and modern management strategies. Over 99% of cervical cancer cases are causally linked topersistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), primarily types 16 and 18. This fundamental understandinghas transformed the approach to prevention, offering a clear pathway for primary prevention through prophylactic HPVvaccination and secondary prevention via organized screening programs using Pap tests and HPV DNA testing. The reviewdetails the multi-step process of carcinogenesis from HPV infection to high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)and invasive cancer, highlighting the long latency period that provides a crucial window for intervention. It also outlines theclinical presentation, the 2018 FIGO staging system, and the tailored treatment modalities, including surgery for early-stagedisease and concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced cases. The article concludes by discussing the persistentchallenges in global implementation of prevention strategies, such as vaccine hesitancy and a lack of screening infrastructurein developing nations, while emphasizing the WHO's vision for the elimination of this preventable disease.