Time interval in diagnosis and treatment of papillary thyroid cancer: a descriptive, retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Studies have investigated delays in the diagnosis of neoplasms to identify delays to treatment on the part of patients and primary care practitioners. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the time interval (TI) required for the diagnosis of symptomatic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: The study included 97 patients with PTC. Other histologic types and incidental microcarcinomas were excluded. The primary outcome variable was the TI between the occurrence of a sign/symptom and thyroidectomy. TI was composed of patient's TI (PTI), diagnostic TI (DTI), and therapeutic TI (TTI). RESULTS: The TI between the occurrence of a sign/symptom and thyroidectomy averaged 3 months. PTI ranged from 25-85 days, DTI from 12-40 days, and TTI from 7-30 days. PTI was higher (P < .05) than DTI and TTI. CONCLUSION: PTI is the most important factor affecting TI. Implementation of information may increase patient's alertness and reduce misinterpretation of signs/symptoms. Collaboration between specialists is fundamental to further reduce DTI and TTI. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.