Barbadian healthcare professionals are being encouraged to implement targeted, high-risk screening strategies for head and neck cancers, as global cases continue to surge and new guidelines for thyroid cancer detection reshape medical practices. Dr. Salonee Shenoy, an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Specialist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, emphasized this approach during her presentation at the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) annual conference. She highlighted that routine population-wide screening for head and neck cancers is neither practical nor effective, unlike screenings for breast or prostate cancer. ‘In the general population, it is not recommended due to low prevalence and the potential for false positives,’ Dr. Shenoy explained. ‘The focus should be on identifying high-risk groups, such as heavy smokers, alcohol users, HPV-positive individuals, and those with a family history of thyroid cancers.’ Globally, head and neck cancers account for 650,000 new cases annually, with the highest prevalence in India, Pakistan, Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia. By 2030, mucosal cancers in these regions are projected to increase by 30%. Thyroid cancer, particularly among women, is also on the rise worldwide. While Barbados and the Caribbean have relatively low prevalence rates, Dr. Shenoy warned against complacency. She cautioned that universal screening could lead to unnecessary procedures, false positives, and over-diagnosis, with no proven mortality benefit. Instead, she advocated for regular oral cavity examinations in high-risk patients and vigilance for pre-malignant lesions like leukoplakia and erythroplakia, which have a 20–30% malignant potential. Dr. Shenoy also outlined critical warning signs requiring urgent ENT referral, including non-healing mouth sores, persistent throat discomfort, and unexplained neck masses. She highlighted advancements in thyroid cancer detection, such as the TR1–TR5 scoring system, high-resolution ultrasound, and AI-assisted diagnostics. ‘Screening should be targeted, not universal,’ she concluded. ‘Patient education and the use of advanced tools like ultrasound, biopsy, and molecular markers are essential for accurate risk stratification.’ Future directions include personalized screening, AI integration, and improved biomarker discovery.
Barbados doctors urged to strengthen high-risk screening for head & neck and thyroid cancers
