New NICE referral guidance for oral cancer: does it risk delay in diagnosis?
Changes to guidance about the two-week wait referrals for suspected cancer of the head and neck have created a new recommendation for a general medical practitioner to refer any patients to a dentist under certain criteria. The potential effect of this was assessed based on 91 referrals to an oral and maxillofacial unit. A total of 33 met the criteria for initial referral to a dentist; of these, one was later diagnosed with cancer. We outline the potential deleterious effects the new guidance might have on the rapid diagnosis of oral lesions.
Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester LE1 5WW. Electronic address: drdrgrimes@gmail.com.
D
D
Grimes
Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester LE1 5WW. Electronic address: jaymit.patel@nhs.net.
J
J
Patel
Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester LE1 5WW. Electronic address: christopher.avery@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.
C
C
Avery
D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
NICE guidance; Two week wait; head and neck cancer