Oral cancer screening for high-risk individuals in the primary healthcare setting using an active approach

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is considered a major public health problem. The diagnosis often occurs in advanced stages, causing high morbidity and mortality, and therefore, prevention strategies should be advocated. This study aimed to investigate a model of OSCC screening for high-risk individuals in the Family Health Strategy's (FHS) scenario.

Participants were men between 50 and 65 years of age registered in a primary healthcare electronic database and resident in an area with low socioeconomic status in the city of Curitiba (Paraná/Brazil). With the support of an electronic map application, dentistry students visited subjects at their homes.

From the 16 391 registered subjects, 981 were men aged between 50 and 65. From 608 available subjects, 233 (38.3%) were identified as smokers and former smokers and 202 (86.6%) were examined. There was a prevalence of 57 (28.2%) potentially malignant lesions and one confirmed case of squamous cell carcinoma. Actual smoking habits, low-income wage, and absence from clinical appointments were the key predictors of leukoplakia in this study sample.

This study offers evidence of the possibility of applying a high-risk-oriented approach as a secondary prevention measure in the FHS in Brazil or other developing countries.