An evaluation of the oral cancer control program in Cuba

The Cuban oral cancer screening program, functioning since 1984, requires all subjects of > or = 15 years to have an annual oral visual inspection by dentists. It covered 12-26% of the target population annually. Less than 30% of the subjects with suspect lesions complied with referral. The program identified 16% of the 4,412 incident oral cancers in Cuba during 1984-1990. The proportion of stage I cases increased from 24% in 1983 to 49% in 1990, although staging information was available only for half of the cases. There was no change in oral cancer incidence and mortality in Cuba over the last decade that could be ascribed to the screening program.