Demographics and efficacy of head and neck cancer screening.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to 1) describe the demographics and 2) determine the efficacy of a head and neck cancer screening program to optimize future programs.


METHODS
Database analysis plus chart review.


METHODS
Tertiary care academic medical center.


METHODS
After Institutional Review Board approval, we reviewed our 14-year experience (1996-2009) conducting a free annual head and neck cancer screening clinic. Available demographic and clinical data, as well as clinical outcomes, were analyzed for all participants (n = 761). The primary outcome was the presence of a finding suspicious for head and neck cancer on screening evaluation.


RESULTS
Five percent of participants had findings suspicious for head and neck cancer on screening evaluation, and malignant or premalignant lesions were confirmed in one percent of participants. Lack of insurance (P = 0.05), tobacco use (P < 0.001), male gender (P = 0.03), separated marital status (P = 0.03), and younger age (P = 0.04) were the significant demographic predictors of a lesion suspicious for malignancy. Patients complaining of a neck mass (P < 0.001) or oral pain (P < 0.001) were significantly more likely to have findings suspicious of malignancy. A high percentage (40%) was diagnosed with benign otolaryngologic pathologies on screening evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
A minority of patients presenting to a head and neck cancer screening clinic will have a suspicious lesion identified. Given these findings, to achieve maximal potential benefit, future head and neck cancer screening clinics should target patients with identifiable risk factors and take full advantage of opportunities for education and prevention.
Shuman
Andrew G
AG
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. shumana@umich.edu
Entezami
Payam
P
Chernin
Anna S
AS
Wallace
Nancy E
NE
Taylor
Jeremy M G
JM
Hogikyan
Norman D
ND
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult