Requesting biochemical tumor markers: A costly gap between evidence and practice?
| Autor: | Kate M De Laine, Bogda Koczwara, Graham H White |
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| Rok vydání: | 2008 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology. 4:157-160 |
| ISSN: | 1743-7563 1743-7555 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2008.00179.x |
| Popis: | Purpose: We have evaluated the pattern of use of common tumor markers at our institution to determine the extent to which it complied with hospital guidelines. Methods: A retrospective audit of the use of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA125, and CA19-9 tumor markers over a 6-week period was conducted. Tumor marker request and clinical data were obtained from various hospital databases and the Central Cancer Registry. This information was then used to determine if the marker use was appropriate, meaning that the request indicated the clinical reason for the request and the reason matched the hospital guidelines. Results: A total of 170 tumor markers was ordered from 131 requests, representing 122 unique patients. CEA was requested most often (50.6% of all requests). Just over half (53.5%) of all markers requested were for follow-up of a known cancer and 35.9% were used to help in the diagnosis of a suspected malignancy. A total of 103 markers (60.6% of all requests) tested were used in a specific malignancy as set out in the guidelines, but only in 54 (31.8%) was a clinical reason for the request clearly documented on the laboratory form. Conclusion: Less than one-third of all requests indicate the clinical reason for the tumor marker request and are ordered in an appropriate clinical setting. Various interventions, such as educating prescribing clinicians and changing the request form may improve prescribing patterns. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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