title: Conceiving a national head and neck cancer screening programme.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was undertaken to determine the optimum approach to screening for head and neck cancer based on international experiences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether or not head and neck cancer is suitable for screening, and, if so, what the ideal approach should be.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic search of online databases up to and including May 2014 was conducted. Key search terms included 'head and neck', 'cancer', 'screening', 'larynx', 'oropharynx' and 'oral'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subset analysis of high-risk cohorts showed statistically significant improvements in early detection of head and neck cancer via screening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current levels of public awareness regarding head and neck cancers are suboptimal, despite increased incidence and mortality. Scheduled and opportunistic screening, coupled with efforts to enhance education and health behaviour modification, are highly recommended for pre-defined, high-risk, targeted populations. This can enable early detection and therefore improve morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia,Head and Neck Surgery,South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital,Cork,Ireland.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gogarty
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,University of Michigan Medical School,Ann Arbor,USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shuman
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department,Cork University Dental School and Hospital,Wilton,Ireland.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital,Cork,Ireland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sheahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,St James's Hospital,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,St James's Hospital,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Timon
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D014943:Global Health; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: Cancer; Head And Neck Cancer; Human Papillomavirus; Oral Cancer; Screening