Oral Cancer: Screening

1. Randomized, controlled trials assessing the benefits and harms of oral cancer screening in U.S. persons who are at increased risk (history of tobacco and heavy alcohol use).
2. Accuracy of primary care providers, dental hygienists, dentists, or other trained persons screening U.S. patients who are at increased risk.
3. Longitudinal follow-up of screening studies that show the health effect of screening in the U.S.
4. Risks and benefits of screening African Americans and men.
5. Benefits of screening for HPV and selection of populations for oral cancer screening based on HPV status.
6. Determining the most effective screening examination.
7. Benefits and harms of screening for oropharyngeal cancer.
8. Research examining the natural history of oral HPV infection.
9. Efficacy of HPV vaccines in preventing infection at noncervical sites and in decreasing the risk for oropharyngeal cancer.

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for oral cancer in asymptomatic adults.

Oral Cancer: Screening Read full statement