S C Lee1, I P Tang, S P Avatar, N Ahmad, K S Selva, K K Tay, T Vikneswaran, T Y Tan. 1. Sarawak General Hospital/University Malaysia Sarawak, Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Lot 77, Sekysen 22, Kuchinng Town Land District, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible causes for delay in diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH). STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study of time interval between onset of symptom, first medical consultation, first specialist clinic consultation, diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer in otorhinolaryngology head and neck (ORL-HNS) and dental clinics at Sarawak General Hospital. Forty-two consecutive cases diagnosed to have cancer between July to December 2006 were studied. RESULTS: Mean interval between onset of symptom and medical consultation was 3.8 months, mean interval between first medical consultation to ORL-HNS or dental clinic referral was 8.4 weeks, mean duration between first ORL-HNS or dental specialist consultation to histopathological diagnosis was 18.8 days while duration between diagnosis to definite treatment was 26.9 days. CONCLUSION: Most cases were diagnosed at advanced stage. Patient delay was the main problem. There was significant delay by frontier health workers in identifying sinister symptoms of malignancy. Timing for diagnosis and treatment after specialist referral were comparable with other published studies.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible causes for delay in diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH). STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study of time interval between onset of symptom, first medical consultation, first specialist clinic consultation, diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer in otorhinolaryngology head and neck (ORL-HNS) and dental clinics at Sarawak General Hospital. Forty-two consecutive cases diagnosed to have cancer between July to December 2006 were studied. RESULTS: Mean interval between onset of symptom and medical consultation was 3.8 months, mean interval between first medical consultation to ORL-HNS or dental clinic referral was 8.4 weeks, mean duration between first ORL-HNS or dental specialist consultation to histopathological diagnosis was 18.8 days while duration between diagnosis to definite treatment was 26.9 days. CONCLUSION: Most cases were diagnosed at advanced stage. Patient delay was the main problem. There was significant delay by frontier health workers in identifying sinister symptoms of malignancy. Timing for diagnosis and treatment after specialist referral were comparable with other published studies.
Authors: Norsa'adah Bachok; Biswa Mohan Biswal; Noor Hayati Abdul Razak; Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Zainoon; Kasmawati Mokhtar; Roselinda Abdul Rahman; Mohd Faizal Abdullah; Siti Mimi Nadiya Mustafa; Nawi Noza Journal: Malays J Med Sci Date: 2018-10-30
Authors: Yu Wang; Yan Guo; Jianguang Lu; Yanan Sun; Xiaoguang Yu; Subash C B Gopinath; Thangavel Lakshmipriya; Yuan Seng Wu; Chao Wang Journal: Nanoscale Res Lett Date: 2020-02-03 Impact factor: 4.703