Delay in diagnosis of head and neck cancer – pro

Diagnosis and treatmetn of head and neck cancer is complex and requires co-ordination or providers and resources. Delays in diagnosis is not uncommon. In a Canadian study, median patient, professional and total delays were 4.5 weeks, 11.8 weeks and 22.5 weeks, respectively. Significantly longer delays were found among women(p < 0.01), non-smokers (p < 0.01), patients who were not referred following initial consultation(p < 0.001) and patients who did not visit their dentist (p < 0.05). Delays in diagnosis was a major factor in malparctice litigation in the USA. A 2005 study found that the median delay was 3 months and the patients were responsible for the delay in most cases (n = 319, 81% and n = 160, 78%, respectively). Half the patients in each studies cohort had delayed diagnoses (n = 217, 54% and n = 119, 56%, respectively) and similar percentages (n = 110, 53% and n = 172, 47%) presented with advanced disease (stage III or IV). These were not the same patients for there was no correlation between delay and stage or survival. AN article in the New York Times Health Guide says that “Approximately 25% of people with oral cancer die because of delayed diagnosis and treatment.”(http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/oral-cancer/overview.html). However, the literature, particularly several studies from Finland, are contradictory in this regard.

Yu T, Wood RE, Tenenbaum HC. Delays in diagnosis of head and neck cancers.J Can Dent Assoc. 2008 Feb;74(1):61

Goy J, Hall SF, Feldman-Stewart D, Groome PA. Diagnostic delay and disease stage in head and neck cancer: a systematic review. Laryngoscope. 2009 May;119(5):889-98.

http://robotics.me.jhu.edu/~rothbaum/Articles%20to%20read/Medical%20malpractice%20and%20head%20and%20neck%20cancer.pdf

Alho, O.-P., Teppo, H., Mantyselka, P., Kantola, S. (2006). Head and neck cancer in primary care: presenting symptoms and the effect of delayed diagnosis of cancer cases.. CMAJ 174: 779-784

Teppo H, Koivunen P, Hyrynkangas K, et al. Diagnostic delays in laryngeal carcinoma: professional diagnostic delay is a strong independent predictor of survival. Head Neck 2003;25:389-94

Koivunen P, Rantala N, Hyrynkangas K, Jokinen K, Alho OP.
The impact of patient and professional diagnostic delays on survival in pharyngeal cancer.Cancer. 2001 Dec 1;92(11):2885-91.

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