Juan Seoane1, Pablo Alvarez-Novoa1, Iria Gomez1, Bahi Takkouche2, Pedro Diz1, Saman Warnakulasiruya3, Juan M Seoane-Romero1, Pablo Varela-Centelles1,4. 1. Stomatology Department, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (A Coruña), Spain. 2. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (A Coruña), Spain. 3. Department of Oral Medicine, King's College, Dental Institute, London, United Kingdom. 4. Galician Health Service, EOXI Lugo, Cervo e Monforte de Lemos, Lugo, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mortality is linked to diagnostic intervals in certain cancers. As symptom perception is conditioned by tumor site, a specific study on oral cancer is needed. METHODS: This study's inclusion criteria were original data, symptomatic primary oral squamous cell carcinoma, and exposure of interest, diagnostic interval, or diagnostic delay. The outcome of interest was survival and disease stage. A meta-analysis was undertaken to investigate the relationship between intervals to diagnosis, TNM classification, and survival in oral cancer. RESULTS: Regarding referral delay, the results present no heterogeneity and showed a risk increase in mortality of 2.48 (range = 1.39-4.42). The larger the diagnostic delay, the more advanced the stage at diagnosis. High quality studies reveal a higher risk increase than low quality studies (odds ratio [OR] = 2.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36-4.36 vs OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.26-1.86). CONCLUSION: A longer time interval from first symptom to referral for diagnosis is a risk factor for advanced stage and mortality of oral cancer.
BACKGROUND: Mortality is linked to diagnostic intervals in certain cancers. As symptom perception is conditioned by tumor site, a specific study on oral cancer is needed. METHODS: This study's inclusion criteria were original data, symptomatic primary oral squamous cell carcinoma, and exposure of interest, diagnostic interval, or diagnostic delay. The outcome of interest was survival and disease stage. A meta-analysis was undertaken to investigate the relationship between intervals to diagnosis, TNM classification, and survival in oral cancer. RESULTS: Regarding referral delay, the results present no heterogeneity and showed a risk increase in mortality of 2.48 (range = 1.39-4.42). The larger the diagnostic delay, the more advanced the stage at diagnosis. High quality studies reveal a higher risk increase than low quality studies (odds ratio [OR] = 2.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36-4.36 vs OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.26-1.86). CONCLUSION: A longer time interval from first symptom to referral for diagnosis is a risk factor for advanced stage and mortality of oral cancer.
Authors: Tanya Walsh; Saman Warnakulasuriya; Mark W Lingen; Alexander R Kerr; Graham R Ogden; Anne-Marie Glenny; Richard Macey Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-12-10
Authors: Nikhil A Ahuja; Satish K Kedia; Kenneth D Ward; Latrice C Pichon; Weiyu Chen; Patrick J Dillon; Hitesh Navaparia Journal: J Cancer Educ Date: 2021-01-27 Impact factor: 1.771
Authors: Tanya Walsh; Richard Macey; Alexander R Kerr; Mark W Lingen; Graham R Ogden; Saman Warnakulasuriya Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-07-20