Evidence-based clinical recommendations regarding screening for oral squamous cell carcinomas.
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 5 systematic reviews and 4 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.
College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
Michael P
MP
Rethman
William
W
Carpenter
Ezra E W
EE
Cohen
Joel
J
Epstein
Caswell A
CA
Evans
Catherine M
CM
Flaitz
Frank J
FJ
Graham
Philippe P
PP
Hujoel
John R
JR
Kalmar
Wayne M
WM
Koch
Paul M
PM
Lambert
Mark W
MW
Lingen
Bert W
BW
Oettmeier
Lauren L
LL
Patton
David
D
Perkins
Britt C
BC
Reid
James J
JJ
Sciubba
Scott L
SL
Tomar
Alfred D
AD
Wyatt
Krishna
K
Aravamudhan
Julie
J
Frantsve-Hawley
Jennifer L
JL
Cleveland
Daniel M
DM
Meyer
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000571:American Dental Association; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008027:Light; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D010808:Physical Examination; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D004396:Coloring Agents; D014048:Tolonium Chloride