Outcomes for Emergency Presentations of Lung Cancer: A Scoping Review

Lung cancer is frequently detected during visits to the emergency department (ED). The ED is crucial for identifying likely cases of lung cancer and coordinating the subsequent care for these patients.

This scoping review aims to explore the definitions of emergency presentations (EPs) of lung cancer, along with mortality rates, cancer stage, and treatments for patients diagnosed with lung cancer following an EP.

We conducted a scoping review of the literature on EPs of lung cancer, identifying 27 relevant articles out of 1338 initially screened.

Most studies originated from the United Kingdom, collectively reporting over 270,000 EPs of lung cancer. The majority of included studies provided strong evidence. Key findings revealed higher mortality rates among patients diagnosed with lung cancer through emergency presentations, with a significant proportion presenting at advanced stages. Patients with EPs were less likely to undergo surgical removal or receive radiotherapy. Lastly, only 66.7% of the studies defined an EP, with great heterogeneity among EP definitions. Methodological differences precluded meta-analysis.

Despite methodological heterogeneity, our synthesis indicates that patients presenting acutely with undiagnosed lung cancer often present at advanced stages and experience high mortality rates. These findings underscore the need for further research to develop evidence-based interventions for improving outcomes among ED patients with suspected lung cancer.