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Evidence summaries

Screening Programmes for the Early Detection and Prevention of Oral Cancer

Screening for oral cancer using a visual examination may not be effective in reducing oral cancer mortality except possibly in high-risk populations. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included one 9-year randomised controlled trial with a total of 191 873 participants (13 clusters). There was no difference in the age-standardised oral cancer mortality rates for the screened group (16.4/100 000 person-years) and the control group (20.7/100 000 person-years). A significant 43% reduction in mortality was recorded in high-risk subjects (individuals that used tobacco, alcohol or both) between the intervention cohort (29.9/100 000 person-years) and the control arm (45.4/100 000).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by limitations in study quality (lack of allocation concealment, small number of clusters randomised) and by indirectness (screening methods with possibly higher sensitivity not used).

    References

    • Brocklehurst P, Kujan O, O'Malley LA et al. Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;(11):CD004150. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords