Impact of optimizing diagnostic workup and reducing the time to treatment in head and neck cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Timely and efficient diagnostic workup of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is challenging. This observational study describes the implementation of an optimized multidisciplinary oncological diagnostic workup for patients with HNC and its impact on diagnostic and treatment intervals, survival, costs, and patient satisfaction.

Methods

All patients with newly diagnosed HNC who underwent staging and treatment at the Radboud University Medical Center were included. Conventional workup (CW) in 2009 was compared with the fast-track, multidisciplinary, integrated care program, that is, optimized workup (OW), as implemented in 2014.

Results

The study included 486 patients with HNC (218 with CW and 268 with OW). The time-to-treatment interval was significant

SUBMITTER: Schutte HW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7496336 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature