Matarredona-Quiles S, Martínez Ruíz de Apodaca P, Serrano Badía E, Ortega Beltrá N, Dalmau-Galofre J. Factors associated with diagnosis delay in head and neck cancer.
Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp (Engl Ed) 2021;
73:S0001-6519(20)30195-3. [PMID:
33714451 DOI:
10.1016/j.otorri.2020.10.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
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.
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