Pre-diagnostic route reported by patients with sarcoma from the Netherlands, the UK, Australia and New Zealand: early detection challenges for general practitioners - an international observational cohort study.
To investigate how patients with sarcoma present prior to diagnosis-through a general practitioner (GP) or another healthcare professional (HCP)-and describe presenting symptoms.
International observational cohort study.
Data were obtained from the longitudinal 'QUality of life and Experiences of Sarcoma Trajectories' (QUEST) cohort study, conducted across the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia and New Zealand.
Among 572 patients, 487 (85.1%) started their diagnostic trajectory at the GP (subcohort 1) and 85 (14.9%) with another HCP (subcohort 2)-mainly medical specialists treating unrelated conditions (36/85; 42.4%). Soft tissue sarcoma patients most often reported swelling, whereas bone sarcoma patients reported unexplained pain. Notably, 31/85 (36.5%) of subcohort 2 were asymptomatic. Reasons for delaying GP visits included assuming symptoms were minor and expecting them to resolve. Patients sought care when, among others, symptoms persisted and worsened.
Most patients first consulted a GP, underlining the role of primary care in sarcoma diagnosis internationally. Due to rarity and nonspecific symptoms, faster diagnosis remains challenging, requiring improvements in both primary and specialist care.
NCT03441906; Results.
International observational cohort study.
Data were obtained from the longitudinal 'QUality of life and Experiences of Sarcoma Trajectories' (QUEST) cohort study, conducted across the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia and New Zealand.
Among 572 patients, 487 (85.1%) started their diagnostic trajectory at the GP (subcohort 1) and 85 (14.9%) with another HCP (subcohort 2)-mainly medical specialists treating unrelated conditions (36/85; 42.4%). Soft tissue sarcoma patients most often reported swelling, whereas bone sarcoma patients reported unexplained pain. Notably, 31/85 (36.5%) of subcohort 2 were asymptomatic. Reasons for delaying GP visits included assuming symptoms were minor and expecting them to resolve. Patients sought care when, among others, symptoms persisted and worsened.
Most patients first consulted a GP, underlining the role of primary care in sarcoma diagnosis internationally. Due to rarity and nonspecific symptoms, faster diagnosis remains challenging, requiring improvements in both primary and specialist care.
NCT03441906; Results.
Authors
Holthuis Holthuis, Soomers Soomers, Rafiq Rafiq, Jones Jones, Hayes Hayes, Van De Wal Van De Wal, Drabbe Drabbe, Been Been, Bonenkamp Bonenkamp, van der Hage van der Hage, Lee Lee, Verhoef Verhoef, van Houdt van Houdt, Young Young, Bae Bae, Andelkovic Andelkovic, Hong Hong, Connor Connor, Koops Koops, van der Graaf van der Graaf, Husson Husson
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