Factors associated with diagnosis delay in head and neck cancer.

Autor: Matarredona-Quiles S; Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia, España. Electronic address: silvia.matarredona@gmail.com., Martínez Ruíz de Apodaca P; Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia, España., Serrano Badía E; Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Francesc de Borja, Gandía, Valencia, España., Ortega Beltrá N; Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia, España., Dalmau-Galofre J; Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia, España.
Jazyk: English; Spanish; Castilian
Zdroj: Acta otorrinolaringologica espanola [Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp (Engl Ed)] 2021 Mar 10. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Mar 10.
DOI: 10.1016/j.otorri.2020.10.001
Abstrakt: Introduction and Objectives: Tumour stage is an important prognostic factor in head and neck tumours. Many tumours are diagnosed in advanced stages despite almost universal healthcare and their being symptomatic. This paper seeks to determine the diagnostic delay in head and neck tumours in our health department, to analyse factors associated with delay and if it is associated with diagnosis in advanced stages.
Methods: Retrospective study of 137 patients with head and neck cancer diagnosed from 2016-2018. Patient delay, delay in primary health care, delay in secondary health care, diagnostic delay and possible associated factors (smoking, location, stage, …) were evaluated.
Results: Many patients (44.5%) were diagnosed in advanced stages. The median patient delay was 30 days. The median referral to otorhinolaryngology was 3.5 days. If the referral was made by another specialist (p=.008), the patients were under previous treatment (P=.000) and the tumours were in initial stages (P=.038) this delay was greater. The median from the first visit to otorhinolaryngology was 15 days, higher in regular referrals (43%) (P=.000). The median diagnostic delay was 12 days, higher in surgical biopsies (P=.000). The median professional delay was 58.5 days and total delay was 118.5 days.
Conclusions: Many head and neck tumours are diagnosed in advanced stages. A relationship was not found between diagnosis in advanced stages and diagnostic delay. However, steps must be taken to reduce these excessive delays.
(Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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