Auditing a new lung cancer service.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• The Adelaide and Meath Hospital (AMNCH) established its respiratory service in 1999.
• This study reviews the initial experience with lung cancer cases at AMNCH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the early experience of a new respiratory service in managing lung cancer.
• To assess diagnostic timelines, tissue diagnosis rates, disease staging, and the utility of PET scans in lung cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart audit of lung cancer cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2002.
• Data collection included patient demographics, diagnosis, tissue type, staging, and imaging results.
• Analysis of time to tissue diagnosis and the impact of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) on staging and management.

Main Results:

• A total of 118 lung cancer cases were diagnosed (47 in 2001, 71 in 2002).
• The mean time to tissue diagnosis was 14.8 days.
• Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) accounted for 77.9% of cases, with 47.8% presenting at Stage 4; Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) represented 14.4%, with 70.6% in the extensive stage.
• PET scans altered staging in 8 of 22 evaluated patients.

Conclusions:

• The AMNCH respiratory service is managing a growing volume of lung cancer cases.
• Diagnosis occurs within acceptable timeframes with tissue diagnosis rates comparable to national averages.
• A significant proportion of patients present with advanced disease, and PET is a valuable tool for staging selected lung cancer patients.