title: Cancer screening: evidence and practice in Europe 2008.
abstract: We examine the theoretical basis of screening, followed by an evaluation of screening initiatives from a population health perspective and a discussion of the organisation of mass screening programmes. Evidence for the effectiveness of screening by primary site from both randomised trials and evaluation of service screening is summarised and the existing cancer screening programmes in the European Union are described. Sufficient evidence from several randomised trials to demonstrate mortality reduction exists for breast cancer and colorectal cancer screening. At least one trial has shown efficacy with a mortality end-point in screening for hepatocellular carcinoma and oral cancer. Randomised trials have demonstrated a lack of mortality effect in lung cancer screening based on chest X-ray and sputum cytology. Despite the lack of randomised trials, population screening for cervical cancer with cytological smears has been convincingly shown to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Tampere School of Public Health, FI-33014 University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakama
authors.forename: Michel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Delia-Marina
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Alexe
authors.forename: Anssi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auvinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards