Authors' objectives: To assess whether screening for oral cancer reduces morbidity or mortality and to determine the performance characteristics of the oral screening examination for cancer or potentially malignant disorders (PMDs).

Authors' recommendations: We found no evidence on screening either a general or a selected high-risk population for oral cancer in the United States. Screening subjects in a high-prevalence population outside the United States lowered the stage of oral cancer at diagnosis and improved 5-year survival. However, survival differences could represent length or lead-time bias. Screening subjects in the subgroup who used tobacco or alcohol reduced the mortality rate from oral cancer. Subgroup analyses, however, were post-hoc and should be viewed as exploratory. The performance characteristics of the screening examination varied widely, with applicable results only from dentists addressing higher-risk patients in the United Kingdom. However, sensitivity and specificity estimates were for PMDs as well as cancers, and do not represent a clear screening strategy that is applicable to U.S. practice. We found no evidence that any adjunctive device affects the performance of the screening examination.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2013

URL for published report: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK132472/pdf/TOC.pdf

URL for additional information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK132472/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;

Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)