title: Delay in the diagnosis and prognosis of carcinoma of the right colon.
abstract: Of 152 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the right colon, 61 (40 per cent) suffered delays in treatment of more than 12 weeks from the onset of symptoms, with a mean delay of 48 weeks. The most common error was failure to initiate or complete the investigation of iron-deficiency anaemia (33 patients). False-negative barium enema investigations occurred in 16 cases. Patients with delays in diagnosis had survival rates not significantly different from those who presented early. Thirty-one patients with anaemia and no abdominal symptoms had a significantly higher survival rate than 30 presenting with abdominal symptoms, despite delays in treatment (P < 0.02). Greater vigilance is required in the investigation of patients presenting with iron-deficiency anaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Irvin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000209:etiology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors