PMID: 26324087Sep 2, 2015Paper

Prevalence of cancer in Danish patients referred to a fast-track diagnostic pathway is substantial

Danish Medical Journal
Lise Sofie BislevSøren T Knudsen

Abstract

Danish patients diagnosed with cancer who present with unspecific signs and symptoms are diagnosed with unfavourable delay, which has led to the establishment of a national fast-track (cancer) pathway. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cancer and other diagnoses in patients referred to this programme at Aarhus University Hospital from general practitioners. Furthermore, we aimed to characterise the patient cohort, assess survival and estimate the predictive values of symptoms, signs and biochemical abnormalities. From 1 March 2011 to 31 December 2013, data of interest were consecutively collected from the electronic patient record by two medical doctors. Overall, 18% (58/323) had cancer, but the prevalence decreased from 22% in 2011 to 16% in 2013. Haematological cancers and cancers originating from the digestive system were the predominant cancer diagnoses. Patients diagnosed with cancer unfortunately had a high mortality suggesting that we diagnose cancer in the late, non-curable stages. Patients referred to the fast-track pathway had a median of four symptoms, most commonly weight loss and fatigue. In one fourth of the patients, a final diagnosis was not reached at discharge. For the rest (n = 185), gas...Continue Reading

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