Testicular Cancer
Return to Library
|
Free Testicular Cancer Articles |
|
|
|
|
New research on cancer from A. Mathew and co-authors summarized
2009 JUL 20 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to recent research from Dudley, the United Kingdom, "Two week wait referral guidelines have been published by the UK Department of Health for suspected urological cancers. Concordance to these guidelines is variable." "to assess the incidence of urological malignancy and the proportion of inappropriate referrals in the two-week wait pathway. Retrospective audit of all two-week wait referrals to the urology department over 6 months. Inappropriate referrals were those not satisfying the referral criteria, but referred under the two-week wait system. Detection rates were calculated for each referral criterion based on diagnosis obtained from histology, imaging reports and clinic letters. Incidence of cancer was 90 of 400 two-week wait referrals (23%). The cancer-detection rate based on reasons for referral ranged from 50 of 122 (41%) for elevated prostate-specific antigen levels to 2 of 56 (4%) for scrotal lumps; 42 (11%) referrals were inappropriate. The overall cancer-detection rate is acceptable. Most inappropriate referrals were for long-standing symptoms and non-specific testicular/scrotal symptoms. The testicular cancer detection rate raises questions about the two-week wait guidelines. Providing general practitioners with fast-track scrotal ultrasound and revising the guideline may reduce the disproportionately high number of patients referred with suspected testicular cancer," wrote A. Mathew and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Other inappropriate referrals are a cause for concern as they add to the workload of the 'urgent-referral' pathway." Mathew and colleagues published their study in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (An audit of urology two-week wait referrals in a large teaching hospital in England. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2009;91(4):310-312). For additional information, contact A. Mathew, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, UK. Publisher contact information for the journal Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England is: Royal College Surgeons England, 35-43 Lincoln'S Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN, England. Keywords: United Kingdom, Dudley, Cancer, Histology, Oncology, Urology. This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.
|
