Natural history of cervical neoplasia: overview and update.

Current cervical cancer control strategies and specifically, the screening and treatment policies that have been used during the past 30 years, are based on an understanding of the natural history of cervical neoplasia that does not take into account the important role of human papillomavirus in cervical cancer pathogenesis. This survey presents a review of new data on the causes of cervical cancer and the role of human papillomavirus and recommends the integration of these data. Incorporation of new information on the role of human papillomavirus as the causative agent of most cervical cancers will allow the design of more efficient and more cost-effective strategies for cervical cancer control.