The past few decades have seen medical science making rapid strides in the field of diagnostic technologies, thus making it possible to detect some conditions at a very early stage. An unwanted effect of these developments is overdiagnosis which occurs when a true abnormality is discovered, but detection of that abnormality and its treatment does not benefit the patient. Overdiagnosis is encountered as a result cancer screening, in genetic diseases and in some chronic conditions when disease definition is broadened. There is urgent need of development of evidence based decision-making tools for clinicians which will help patients understand the benefits and harms of different screening and treatment methods. And the treating physician has to play a important role to convince the patient that watchful waiting, for some of the lesions may be the best option available in some circumstances.
Keywords: Overdiagnosis; overtreatment; too much healthcare.
Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.