Predicting delays in lung cancer diagnosis and staging

Despite growing interest in increasing the efficiency and speed of the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of lung cancer (LC), the interval from signs and symptoms to diagnosis and treatment remains longer than recommended. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors that cause delays in the LC diagnosis/staging process and, consequently, delays in making therapeutic decisions.

We analyzed audit data from a prospective dataset of 1330 patients assessed at The Lung Cancer Rapid Diagnostic Unit from 26 June 2013 to 26 March 2016. The number and type of procedures and medical tests and the times of all procedures were recorded. Clinical and epidemiological variables and whether the diagnosis was performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis were also recorded.

Malignancy was confirmed in 737 (55.4%) of the 1330 patients, with LC in 627 of these (85.2%). The mean interval to final diagnosis was 19.8 ± 13.9 days. Variables significantly related to a longer diagnostic time were the number of days until computed tomography (CT) was performed (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.347, 1.103-1.645; P = 0.003), until a histology sample was obtained (OR 1.243, 95% CI1.062-1.454; P = 0.007), and the total number of tests performed during the diagnostic and staging process (OR 1.823, 95% CI 1.046-3.177; P = 0.03).

A greater number of tests and more days to CT and histology led to longer delay times. Optimization of these factors should reduce delays in the LC diagnosis process.