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A Comprehensive Single Institutional Review of 2 Years in a Designated Fast-Track Sarcoma Diagnostic Clinic Linked with a Sarcoma Specialist Advisory Group: Meeting the Target but Failing the Task?

Authors :
Zoltan Szucs
Dochka Davidson
Han Hsi Wong
Gail Horan
Philip W. P. Bearcroft
Ian Grant
Robert Grimer
Melanie A. Hopper
Helen Hatcher
Helena Earl
Source :
Sarcoma, Vol 2016 (2016)
Publication Year :
2016
Publisher :
Hindawi Limited, 2016.

Abstract

Background. National guidelines prompted the implementation of a designated two-week wait referral pathway to facilitate the early diagnosis of sarcomas, to improve treatment outcomes. Methods. Patients referred to the Cambridge Sarcoma Diagnostic Clinic between January 2013 and December 2014 were identified through the electronic appointments system. Information was retrospectively retrieved about patient characteristics and details of the diagnostic pathway. Results. 17.3% of patients referred (69/397) were diagnosed with a malignancy. Of these, 59.3% (41/69) had primary sarcomas, 17.4% (12/69) had metastatic cancer, and 23.2% (16/69) had a different primary malignancy. 15% of the 41 sarcomas were 10 cm. Sarcomas diagnosed through this clinic represented 13% (41/315) of sarcomas managed at the centre during the same 2 years. Conclusion. While we achieved the target of 10% (41/397) sarcoma diagnosis rate in the rapid access clinic, only 15% of these were

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1357714X and 13691643
Volume :
2016
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Sarcoma
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.4155276bdc4bb59002ec3d09e2effc
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6032606