Cancer screening has long been an important component of the struggle to reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality from cancer. Notwithstanding this history, many aspects of cancer screening remain poorly understood. This article presents a summary of basic principles of cancer screening that are relevant for researchers, clinicians, and public health officials alike.
Keywords: Cancer screening; Lead time; Number needed to screen; Overdiagnosis; Performance characteristics; Targeted screening.
Published by Elsevier Inc.