Preventing Oral and Pharyngeal Cancers: Population-Based Interventions for Early Detection

Task Force Finding*

Population-based interventions for early detection of pre-cancers and cancers educate the public about risk factors, symptoms, signs, and the value of early detection; encourage high-risk or symptomatic individuals to examine themselves for suspicious lesions and to seek out a source of professional examination and follow-up; train health workers to detect suspicious lesions; examine people at the workplace, home, health fairs, field clinics, or the usual source of care; and refer eligible people with suspicious lesions (e.g., leukoplakia, erythroplakia, lichen planus, submucous fibrosis, and oral cancer) for follow-up and treatment.

The Task Force identified 19 studies with limited quality of execution. Those studies provide insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of early detection programs in improving stage distribution, morbidity, mortality, or quality of life at the population level.

*From the following publication:

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations on selected interventions to prevent dental caries, oral and pharyngeal cancers, and sports-related craniofacial injuries. [PDF - 69KB] Am J Prev Med 2002;23(1S):16-20.

Review completed: June 2000