title: Evidence-based clinical recommendations regarding screening for oral squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article presents evidence-based clinical recommendations developed by a panel convened by the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. This report addresses the potential benefits and potential risks of screening for oral squamous cell carcinomas and the use of adjunctive screening aids to visualize and detect potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The panel members conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, identifying 332 systematic reviews and 1,499 recent clinical studies. They selected five systematic reviews and four clinical studies to use as a basis for developing recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The panel concluded that screening by means of visual and tactile examination to detect potentially malignant and malignant lesions may result in detection of oral cancers at early stages of development, but that there is insufficient evidence to determine if screening alters disease-specific mortality in asymptomatic people seeking dental care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The panel suggested that clinicians remain alert for signs of potentially malignant lesions or early-stage cancers while performing routine visual and tactile examinations in all patients, but particularly in those who use tobacco or who consume alcohol heavily. Additional research regarding oral cancer screening and the use of adjuncts is needed.
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rethman
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Ezra E W
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Caswell A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Flaitz
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Philippe P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Hujoel
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kalmar
authors.forename: Wayne M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lingen
authors.forename: Bert W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Oettmeier
authors.forename: Lauren L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Britt C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sciubba
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tomar
authors.forename: Alfred D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aravamudhan
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frantsve-Hawley
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000295:instrumentation; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors