Outcomes of a head and neck cancer screening clinic

Autor: Brian T. Shaffer, Andrew G. Shuman, Jatin P. Shah, Dorothy Thomas, Frank L. Palmer, Jay O. Boyle, Snehal G. Patel, Prateek Patel, Janet McKiernan
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: Oral oncology. 49(12)
ISSN: 1879-0593
2001-2012
Popis: To describe an institutional experience conducting an annual free head and neck (HN) cancer screening clinic. Specific aims included: (1) identifying factors predicting which individuals will have findings suspicious for malignancy; and (2) evaluating potential barriers to subsequent follow-up among patients with suspicious findings.This retrospective cohort study involved individuals presenting to an annual HN cancer screening clinic (2001-2012). Original screening clinic data and electronic medical records were reviewed. Descriptive and comparative statistics were utilized in order to address the study aims.Of 1573 participants, 325 (21%) had abnormal findings on screening, of which 183 (12%) had findings suspicious for cancer. No demographic factors predicted a suspicion for cancer. The presence of patient-reported symptoms (16% vs. 8%; p0.001) were significantly associated with a suspicion for cancer. Only 20% of individuals with a suspicion for cancer returned to our institution for recommended follow-up. Patients who did not complain of symptoms were less likely to return for follow-up (2% vs. 36%; p0.001). Of the patients who returned for follow-up evaluation, malignancies were diagnosed in three patients.Few individuals presenting to a HN cancer screening clinic will have a malignancy detected, and barriers may influence patients' likelihood to present for subsequent evaluation. Due to self-selection among patients presenting for screening, traditional risk factors may not be associated with the likelihood of detecting a suspicion for HN cancer. Head and neck cancer screening clinics should thus target patients at high risk, and attempt to ensure appropriate follow-up thereafter.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz: