title: [Delays in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer for patients treated with radiation therapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe delays in diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in patients treated by radiotherapy from the first abnormal imaging to the first day of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our retrospective single-center study included all patients treated for primary lung cancer in our center receiving radiotherapy alone or in association to chemotherapy or surgery, between 1st May and 15th September 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 40 patients. Mean age was 65.3 years and sex ratio was 4 (32 males). In 72.5% (n = 29) of the cases, the objective of the treatment was palliative. Median delay between the first abnormal imaging to the first day of treatment was 75.5 days (CI 95% [63.6-134.4]). Median diagnostic delay to obtain a pathological proof was 38 days (CI 95% [27.9-100]). Median therapeutic delay to start treatment was 31 days (CI 95% [24.6-38.5]). When considering radiotherapy, median delay between multidisciplinary staff decision and first radiotherapy session was 26 days (CI 95% [22.4-33.3]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study of the delays in diagnosis and treatment is the first step to reduce them. Detailed analysis helps to propose some measures to improve these delays.
authors.affiliation: CHU de Bordeaux, hôpital Saint-André, service de radiothérapie, 1, rue Jean-Burguet, 33000 Bordeaux, France. krorivera@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathiaux
authors.forename: Thibaud
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haaser
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Begueret
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jougon
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trouette
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment