title: Referral delay in diagnosis of oro/oropharyngeal cancer in Israel.
abstract: The delay, stage at diagnosis and referral pattern of 543 oro/oropharyngeal cancer patients in Israel were investigated. About two-thirds of the malignancies were diagnosed at early stages. In more than two-thirds there was a delay of at least 2 months from the onset of signs and symptoms up to diagnosis, with a non-significant relationship between stage and delay. A significant correlation (P = 0.002) was found between delay and malignancy site. A delay of more than 4 months was observed in 71% of the patients with lip cancer. Cancers of the lip, palate and buccal mucosa were more frequently diagnosed at early stages. A significant correlation (P = 0.001) was found between stage at diagnosis and referral source. Although 86% of the cancers were diagnosed by physicians, nearly half were already at an advanced stage; when the cancers were diagnosed by dentists, 81% of the remainder were at early stages. No significant relationship was found between the referral medical profession and site of diagnosis. No nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal or laryngeal cancers were diagnosed by dentists.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorsky
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dayan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003813:Dentistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors