Public-based oral cancer screening in Nakatsu city: the management system to maintain the quality and efficacy of the oral cancer screening

Abstract

Population-based oral cancer screening has been conducted in Nakatsu city, Oita prefecture since 2010. Nakatsu city consigned the Nakatsu Dental Association（NDA）to carry out mass screening for oral cancer three times a year, and the NDA asked Oita University Hospital and Kyushu Dental College Hospital to send oral surgeons to screening sites in order to inspect the oral cavity of residents in Nakatsu for oral cancer and oral potential malignant diseases（OPMD） .The number of examinees per screening was set at about 100, and a total of 2,365 have been inspected for seven years from 2010 to 2016. Among them, three cases of oral cancer and 119 cases of OPMD were discovered and sent to university hospitals for detailed examination and treatment.The Oral Cancer Meeting, which consists of representatives of Nakatsu city, NDA and the university hospitals, has been held once a year at the beginning of the fiscal year. In order to maintain and improve the quality and efficacy of the oral cancer screening, the Oral Cancer Meeting members review the results of the previous year' s screening and compliance with the detailed examination, and discuss the management system of the whole screening process and the selection of high-risk subjects for individual recommendation for oral cancer screening.We expect that the Nakatsu oral cancer screening program will increase people' s interest in oral diseases, and thereby reduce the mortality from oral cancer and prevent the decline in QOL after cancer treatment.Key words：population-based oral cancer screening, mass screening, oral cancer, Nakatsu city, governmentRequests for reprints to : Ms. Nagao M