Relative importance of diagnostic delays in different head and neck cancers.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical stage at the time of diagnosis is the most important determinant of prognosis in head and neck cancer. Previously, longer diagnostic delay has been shown to worsen prognosis in cancer of tongue, pharynx and larynx. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of patient and professional diagnostic delays in the prognosis of these head and neck cancers.


METHODS
Population-based retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Oulu University Hospital (tertiary referral centre) district, Northern Finland.


METHODS
Population-based cohort of 221 patients with tongue, pharyngeal or laryngeal cancer diagnosed in 1986-1996.


METHODS
Patient and professional diagnostic delays, overall survival.


RESULTS
Delays were significantly longer in laryngeal cancer. Moreover, longer diagnostic delays worsened survival markedly only in laryngeal cancer. Cut-off points at which the delays showed significant adverse impact in prognosis of laryngeal cancer were >or=3 months in patient delay and >or=6 months in professional delay. If mirror laryngoscopy was not performed at the initial visit, professional delay in laryngeal cancer turned out to be significantly longer.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnostic delays are longer and have a more significant impact on survival in laryngeal cancer than in lingual or pharyngeal cancer. Thus, patients with symptoms suggestive of laryngeal process should always be examined properly at the initial visit in order to shorten the professional diagnostic delay in laryngeal cancer.
Teppo
H
H
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kanta-Häme Central Hospital, Hämeenlinna, Finland. heikki.teppo@khshp.fi
Alho
O-P
OP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality