Diagnóstico do Câncer de Colo do Útero: metodologias e atuação do Biomédico no rastreamento

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the most prevalent neoplasms among women and its main cause is
persistent infection by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), especially the high-risk oncogenic
types. This infection can lead to the development of precursor lesions, which slowly progress
to invasive cancer. The aim of this article was to carry out a narrative literature review on
cervical cancer, covering the main diagnostic methods and the role of biomedical
professionals in screening for the disease. The research was carried out on scientific articles
available on the electronic databases PubMed, SciELO and the Virtual Health Library (VHL),
published between 2012 and 2025. The inclusion criteria were original articles in Portuguese,
English and Spanish. Conclusion papers and books were excluded. A total of 33 articles were
selected, mainly discussing the relationship between HPV and the development of cervical
cancer, diagnostic methods and the role of the biomedical doctor in laboratory practice.
Cytological diagnosis, carried out by means of the Pap test, makes it possible to identify
cellular alterations associated with low-grade and high-grade lesions, as well as invasive
carcinoma. Molecular methods, such as hybrid capture and real-time PCR, offer greater
sensitivity and specificity, allowing for the detection, qualification and quantification of HPV.
In this context, biomedical professionals play an essential role in the detection of HPV and the
analysis of cellular alterations with the potential to develop into cancer, and are responsible
for carrying out and interpreting laboratory tests, as well as issuing diagnostic reports. Early
diagnosis makes it possible to identify the disease at an early stage, favoring specific and
timely treatment. Therefore, recognizing the importance of biomedical professionals in multiprofessional teams contributes significantly to reducing the incidence of and mortality from
cervical cancer, as well as promoting better public health outcomes and a higher quality of life
for women.