title: Screening for brain cancer: why (not): letter.
abstract: In an era of emphasis on disease prevention and its early detection, some have raised the possibility of systematic screening programs concerning brain/cranial disease, namely in search of asymptomatic brain tumors. In this work, the authors enumerate major arguments in favor and against this approach by analyzing the existing literature and conclude there is an absence of evidence sustaining this procedure in terms of clinical and economical advantages, with no clear benefit both to the patient and health systems.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, rua Fonseca Pinto, 3000-075, Portugal. Electronic address: jlmonteiroalves@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, rua Fonseca Pinto, 3000-075, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santiago
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Brain tumors; Prevention; Screening