Table 2 Key messages
From: Screening and overdiagnosis: public health implications
• Overdiagnosis is the diagnosis of a condition that is not associated with a substantial health hazard; it causes overtreatment. |
• Screening is a major cause of overdiagnosis. |
• Patients and physicians should be informed about risk of overdiagnosis associated with screening. Targeted screening, active surveillance, and prognosis estimation allow prevention of overdiagnosis and of overtreatment. |
• Research is needed to assess the public health burden of overdiagnosis due to screening activity. |