Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Oman.
Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Al-Nahdha Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2020 May;20(2):e173-e178. doi: 10.18295/squmj.2020.20.02.007. Epub 2020 Jun 28.
The prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) depends substantially on disease stage at the time of diagnosis. Unfortunately, the majority of HNC patients present at relatively late stages. In Oman, a national screening campaign was conducted to increase public awareness of HNC and encourage early detection. This study aimed to report the outcomes of that campaign.
The campaign took the form of biannual events conducted at a tertiary care centre and in public malls in Muscat, Oman from April 2015 to July 2019. Data were collected from participants using the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance screening form. Otolaryngologists and oral maxillofacial surgeons performed a thorough physical evaluation of the head and neck region.
Of the 1,500 individuals visiting the hospital and malls during the campaign events, a total of 509 agreed to undergo screening (response rate: 33.9%). Of these, 12.8% had positive screening results and 5.9% required further evaluation. However, none of the cases with suspicious findings were found to be malignant after a thorough evaluation. Overall, 16.9% of the participants were aware of the early signs of HNC; in addition, 5.5% knew how to perform an oral self-examination.
Screening is a simple and safe method for the prevention and early detection of HNC. Mass screening and public awareness programmes may help to reduce the burden of this disease in Oman.
头颈部癌症（HNC）的预后在很大程度上取决于诊断时的疾病阶段。不幸的是，大多数 HNC 患者就诊时已处于相对较晚的阶段。在阿曼，开展了一项全国性的筛查活动，以提高公众对头颈部癌症的认识，并鼓励早期发现。本研究旨在报告该活动的结果。
该活动于 2015 年 4 月至 2019 年 7 月在阿曼的一家三级护理中心和公共购物中心以双年度活动的形式进行。参与者使用头颈部癌症联盟的筛查表提供数据。耳鼻喉科医生和口腔颌面外科医生对头颈部进行彻底的体格检查。
在活动期间，共有 1500 人到医院和购物中心就诊，共有 509 人同意接受筛查（应答率：33.9%）。其中，12.8%的筛查结果呈阳性，5.9%需要进一步评估。然而，在经过彻底评估后，没有发现可疑发现的病例是恶性的。总体而言，16.9%的参与者了解 HNC 的早期迹象；此外，5.5%的人知道如何进行口腔自我检查。
筛查是预防和早期发现 HNC 的简单安全方法。大规模筛查和公众意识计划可能有助于减轻阿曼的疾病负担。
