Tamización de cáncer y sobrediagnóstico

Abstract

There is a general belief that cancer screening tests (or programs) are unquestionably beneficial because they “save many lives” and have few harmful effects. However, in some cases, there are undeniable doubts about the former and serious concerns about the latter, especially due to the possibility of what is known as cancer overdiagnosis, a phenomenon little known by the general population and even by many physicians. It is defined as the detection of a histologically confirmed “cancer” that would not have been detected in the person’s lifetime if the test had not been performed. These are lesions with histological features of “cancer,” but if left untreated, they do not cause harm or anticipate the death of individuals. Since they are indistinguishable from those that, if left untreated, do cause harm and anticipate death, we treat them all, causing harm through “overtreatment” (treating conditions that do not benefit from it). This review explores the problem of overdiagnosis and its potential consequences.