title: Delay in diagnostic biopsies in suspected cancer.
abstract: The number type and results of test done before biopsy were analyzed in patients with gastrointestinal, and lung cancers, adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site and lymphomas in an attempt to investigate the degree and type of delays in performing a diagnostic biopsy. In the 181 patients evaluated a 9 to 14 days delay diagnostic before a biopsy was done and was consistent across the four malignancies studied. In 59% delay be attributed to continued, frequently low yield, noninvasive tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Command Hospital, Southern Command, Pune, India.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors