title: Delay between the initial symptoms, the diagnosis and the onset of specific treatment in elderly patients with lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The proportion of elderly patients with lung cancer is increasing. The objectives of this study were to describe the initial symptoms in elderly patients (≥ 70 years) with lung cancer and to describe the diagnostic and treatment delays.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed all consecutive patients with lung cancer that were diagnosed between 2006 and 2008 in our department. The initial symptoms and delays in the diagnosis and treatment in elderly patients were compared with those of younger patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred ninety-three patients were included (26 small-cell cancers and 167 non-small-cell lung cancers [NSCLCs]). Ninety-two patients (47.7%) were ≥ 70 years old. No statistical differences were identified between the 2 groups concerning initial symptoms. In elderly patients, the delay between the initial symptoms and the first visit with a thoracic oncologist (median 1.6 months [IQR 23 days-3.3 months]), the delay between the first visit and the specific treatment (median 1.1 months [IQR 18 days-1.8 months]), and the delay between initial symptoms and the specific treatment (median 3 months [IQR 2-5.7 months]) were similar to those in the younger patients (P = .101, P = .084, and P = .671, respectively). Eighty-four percent of the elderly patients were actively treated vs. 98% of the younger patients (P = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified no differences regarding the initial symptoms in elderly patients with lung cancer compared with those in younger patients. The delays in diagnosis and treatment were similar between the 2 groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Hopital Ambroise Pare, AP-HP, 9 avenue Charles de Gaulle, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France. etiennegl@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giroux Leprieur
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Labrune
authors.forename: Violaine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giraud
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gendry
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cobarzan
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chinet
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors