title: Screening at a health fair to identify subjects for an oral leukoplakia chemoprevention trial.
abstract: Screening examinations were conducted at a Chinese community health fair in Houston, Texas, to identify individuals with oral leukoplakia for a chemoprevention trial of oral-cavity squamous cell carcinoma. All 161 volunteer participants were interviewed regarding age, smoking habits, and betel-nut and alcohol use. The screening included an examination of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and neck. One participant had a 1-mm area of oral leukoplakia on the right lateral surface of the oral tongue. Eighteen participants had other head and neck abnormalities. Only 12 participants (7.5%) were active smokers, and eight (5%) reported a prior history of smoking. One participant reported prior betel-nut use. The mean age was 55 years. The authors conclude that a venue such as this has a low yield for screening and recruitment of high-risk individuals for chemoprevention of oral-cavity squamous cell carcinoma, that generally health-conscious individuals attend health fairs, and that only a small percentage volunteer for oral screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Clayman
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lippman
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006277:Health Fairs; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013781:Texas; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids