title: A critical evaluation of current protocols for the follow-up of women treated for gynecological malignancies: a pilot study.
abstract: This retrospective review was undertaken to determine the efficacy of routine follow-up in the detection and management of recurrent cancer. The case notes of all women attending a regional cancer center who were diagnosed with cancer in 1997 were reviewed. Of 81 new cancers followed up for a median of 42 months (range 36-48), 14 have recurred after curative treatment and there were six cases of persistent disease. The median number of clinic visits per patient was 3.5 (range 1-16). Eight recurrences (57.1%) were diagnosed at scheduled outpatient appointments, three (2 l.4%) presented to the general practitioner (GP), and three were seen as emergencies in hospital. Seventeen patients with persistent/recurrent disease have died and three are alive with disease. The median time from initial presentation to disease recurrence was 12 months (range 5-25) and the median time from recurrence to death was 5 months (range 1-20). The longest interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of recurrence (4 months) occurred in those presenting at scheduled outpatient clinics. This study demonstrates that the current follow-up protocol is associated with delays in diagnosing recurrence, because symptomatic patients postpone seeking help until their scheduled visit. We have therefore commenced a prospective study evaluating other models of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: St. Michael's Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom. adeola0@aol.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olaitan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murdoch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006176:Gynecology / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000592:standards*