Referral guidelines for suspected cancer of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the impact of referral guidelines for head and neck cancer on the economics and effectiveness of the delivery of care.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the literature was performed to examine the current referral guidelines and referral models that have impacted the delivery of care.


RESULTS
Advances in technology and changes in the diagnostic work up of head and neck cancer require that common symptoms and presentations of head and neck cancer are made available to primary care physicians to improve the expeditious referral of head and neck cancer patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Physician awareness and symptom guidelines may prove effective in expediting the care of patients with head and neck cancer.
Genden
Eric M
EM
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Rinaldo
Alessandra
A
Bradley
Patrick J
PJ
Lowry
John
J
Suárez
Carlos
C
Shaha
Ashok R
AR
Scully
Crispian
C
Ferlito
Alfio
A
D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D006113:United Kingdom