Delays in Lung Cancer Diagnosis: Observations from a Tertiary Care Centre in Kerala, India

Abstract

Introduction Timely diagnosis of lung cancer is critical because treatment outcomes correspond to the stage of disease. This study identified patient and physician determined reasons for diagnostic delays. Materials and Methods This was an observational cross-sectional study, conducted at a tertiary care institution in South India, for 12 months. From 207 consecutively selected patients, with a presumptive lung cancer diagnosis, 150 were enrolled utilizing a prefixed questionnaire. The time intervals from appreciation of initial respiratory symptoms to a final tissue diagnosis were defined sequentially as approach interval, referral interval, and diagnostic interval and factors causing delay in each interval were identified. Results In a state with 100% literacy, the mean time to approach a doctor was 8 weeks (range: 0–336 days; SD: 7.95) with a delay seen in 52% of the study group. Referring a suspect lung cancer diagnosis to a specialist, took an average of 4.98 weeks (range: 1–26 weeks; SD: 5.64) with referral delays in 47.3% of patients. The mean diagnostic interval was 9.21 days (range: 3–41 days; SD: 7.18) and 16.7% of cases had diagnostic delays in spite of a definite procedure. Conclusion In a tuberculosis endemic location, empirical treatment with anti-tuberculosis therapy and prolonged antibiotic courses without serially monitoring the course of disease are responsible for referral delays. Also, 88.2% of the total females studied, presented late due to family and work pressures, fear of being stigmatized and being on prolonged home remedies. A wider dissemination and awareness on lung cancer are needed especially among females. A low threshold to reinvestigate and an early referral to a pulmonary or lung cancer specialist, when expected clinicoradiological improvement is lacking, in microbiologically negative tuberculosis should be highlighted.