Pathways to diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer: a descriptive cohort study

• DOI: 10.1038/s41533-018-0113-7
• Publication Date: 2019-02-08T13:55:25Z
• Authors: Stuart Purdie; Nicola Creighton; Kahren Maree White; Deborah Baker; Dan Ewald; Chee Khoon Lee; Alison Lyon; Johnathan Man; David Michail; Alexis Andrew Miller; Lawrence Tan; David Currow; Jane M. Young
• Keywords: Attendance

Abstract Little has been published on the diagnostic and referral pathway for lung cancer in Australia. This study set out to quantify general practitioner (GP) specialist attendance imaging lead-up a diagnosis of non-small cell (NSCLC) identify common pathways New South Wales (NSW), We used linked health data participants 45 Up Study (a NSW population-based cohort study) diagnosed with NSCLC between 2006 2012. Our main outcome measures were GP attendances, X-rays computed tomography (CT) scans chest cancer-related hospital admissions. Among our ( N = 894), 60% n 536) had ≥4 attendances 3 months prior NSCLC, 56% 505) GP-ordered (chest X-ray or CT scan), 39% 349) attended respiratory physician 11% 102) cardiothoracic surgeon. The two most diagnosis, accounting one three people, included (respiratory surgeon) involvement. Overall, 25% people 223) an emergency admission. For 14% 129), admission was only event identified diagnosis. found little effect remoteness residence access services. substantial proportion being setting. Further research is needed establish whether there barriers timely these cases.