Prevention of upper aerodigestive tract cancer through active search strategies and use of equipped propaedeutics()()()

INTRODUCTION: Upper aerodigestive tract cancer is among the most frequent malignancies and has epidemiological importance worldwide. Most cases are already advanced at the diagnosis, with a strong negative impact on survival and high cost to the government. Campaigns directed against these cancers have often failed in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of screening for upper aerodigestive tract cancers, using active search strategies and the use of equipped propaedeutics. METHODS: A cross-sectional, prospective, descriptive, analytical and exploratory study, since its objectives are based on the visualization of cancerous lesions in a sample consisting of individuals with risk factors, aiming to expand the necessary knowledge for cancer detection, aiming at secondary prevention of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx cancer. RESULTS: A total of 16.7% of precancerous lesions and 0.5% of cancer lesions located in the upper aerodigestive tract were clinically visualized. CONCLUSION: The method was effective in the identification of precancerous lesions for the purpose of secondary prevention, but equally important against upper aerodigestive tract cancer, since in the present study the chance of finding the latter was increased by 22.7, showing it is an alternative for future campaigns against the disease.