Overdiagnosis in a cancer screening programme refers to the detection of:
- A Cancers that would never have caused symptoms or death during the patient's lifetime. ✓
- B Cancers that are already metastatic at the time of detection.
- C Cancers that are detected earlier than they would have been without screening.
- D Cancers that are missed by the initial screening test but detected later.
Correct answer: A. Cancers that would never have caused symptoms or death during the patient's lifetime.
Explanation
Overdiagnosis is the detection of abnormalities that meet the pathological definition of cancer but would not have progressed to cause symptoms or death during the patient's lifetime. It is a major harm of screening because it leads to unnecessary treatment, psychological distress, and increased healthcare costs without any clinical benefit. It is distinct from false positives or early detection of lethal cancers.
Reference: Screening: Evidence and Practice, 1st ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.