Cancer Screening Glossary

Systematic screening of entire defined populations rather than high-risk individuals only.

Abnormal tissue with increased risk of progressing to invasive cancer.

Prostate-specific antigen; a protein measured in blood tests to screen for prostate cancer.

Quality-Adjusted Life Year, a health outcome measure combining survival time with quality of life.

Systematic evaluation of screening program performance and adherence to established protocols and standards.

A visual display system that tracks and presents key performance indicators for cancer screening programs in real-time.

Follow-up imaging or clinical evaluation performed when initial screening results are abnormal or require additional ass...

The percentage of screening participants who require additional testing or follow-up after initial screening.

Screening approach that tailors recommendations based on individual cancer risk factors.

Type of invasive cancer arising from squamous epithelial cells, commonly found in cervical and other screening contexts.

Systematic decision-making process that defines screening protocols, follow-up procedures, and management pathways.

Non-invasive CT imaging method for colorectal cancer screening that provides detailed visualization of the entire colon.

Preventive endoscopic examination of the entire colon performed in asymptomatic individuals to detect and remove colorec...

Measure of how well a screening test reduces cancer mortality under ideal conditions.

Recommended time period between successive cancer screening tests for asymptomatic individuals.

Routine mammographic examination of asymptomatic women to detect early breast cancer.

Systematic sequence of steps from initial screening through diagnosis and treatment of abnormal findings.

The proportion of eligible individuals who participate in offered cancer screening programs within a specified timeframe...

Cancer identified through screening examination rather than clinical symptoms.

Ability of a screening test to correctly identify individuals who have cancer (true positive rate).

Type of colorectal polyp with serrated architecture and malignant potential requiring specific surveillance intervals.

Collaborative process between healthcare providers and patients to make screening decisions based on individual risk fac...

The ability of a screening test to correctly identify individuals who do not have the disease (true negative rate).

Apparent improvement in survival due to detection of cancers at earlier stages through screening.