Assessment of screening programs as a strategy for early detection of oral cancer: a systematic review. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ribeiro, Marcela Ferreira Abrahão; Oliveira, Maria Clara Moreira; Leite, Alice Carvalho; Bruzinga, Fábio Fernandes Borém; Mendes, Polianne Alves; Grossmann, Soraya de Mattos Camargo; de Araújo, Vânia Eloisa; Souto, Giovanna Ribeiro
• Is Part Of: Oral oncology. Volume 130(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Oral cancer -- Visual inspection -- Screening Programs -- Early detection -- Systematic Review; OSF Open Science Framebook -- SCC squamous cell carcinomas -- CAPES Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel -- OATD Open Access Theses and Dissertations -- PPV positive predictive value -- NPV negative predictive value -- QUADAS Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies -- GRADE Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation, WHO, World Health Organization -- PRISMA Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis; Mouth -- Cancer -- Periodicals; Mouth -- Tumors -- Periodicals; Mouth Diseases -- Periodicals; Mouth Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Bouche -- Cancer -- Périodiques; Bouche -- Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9943105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.105936
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-8375

Abstract

Highlights: Screening programs performed in subsequent years rise early diagnoses of lesions. Mortality rates were lower when patients participated in screenings more than once. Screening programs can be useful in countries with high prevalence of oral cancer. Abstract: The present study is a systematic review of the evaluation of screening programs as a strategy for early detection of oral cancer. The aim of this study was to assess whether screening through visual inspection is able to identify injuries in early stages, to increase survival, and to decrease the incidence and mortality of oral cancer. Studies using visual inspection to screen for oral cancer and potentially malignant lesions in apparently healthy individuals over 18 years without previous diagnosis of the disease were included. The MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane databases Library, EMBASE, and LILACS, including manual search and gray literature, were searched through January 2021 with no language or date restrictions. The risk of bias and the methodological quality were evaluated according to the appropriate tool for each study design. The analysis of the results was narrative. Seventeen studies were reviewed that included cohort, accuracy, and randomized clinical trial studies. The tracking type performed was opportunistic and organized in a variety of environments. The age of participants ranged between 18 and 60 years old and, in some programs, only people with risk habits for oral cancer were included. The screeners were healthcare professionals, physicians, and dentists. Two studies reported data on the incidence rate of severe cases and mortality and showed a reduction when patients were at risk for the disease and participated in the program more than once. A limitation of this review was the great variability observed in the estimates of the screening effectiveness among the studies, which made comparisons difficult. If a screening program is continuous and able to ensure the inclusion of high-risk individuals, it can contribute to improvement in survival rates with a change of stage and can have a significant impact on incidence and mortality due to the disease. Registration in the Open Science Framebook (OSF) with the osf.io/zg8nr link.