Rendón-Macías ME, Pozo-Almanza Y

Language: Spanish
References: 21
Page: 90-96
PDF size: 417.68 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: oncological diagnosis is often difficult, and the timeliness of treatment influences the prognosis. Objective: to compare the time required for diagnostic confirmation and for the initiation of oncological treatment in pediatric patients with solid tumors, according to the degree of suspicion at referral and the patients' clinical conditions. Material and methods: a total of 175 patients diagnosed with a solid tumor, treated at a tertiary care center, were studied. Patients with suspected cancer, with a histopathological diagnosis, or patients who arrived with a non-oncological diagnosis were included. The times to referral, diagnostic confirmation (Lag-t-Dx), and initiation of oncologic treatment (Lag-t-Tx) were estimated. Results: sixty percent had central nervous system tumors, lymphomas, or bone tumors; 55.4% arrived in stages III-IV. Of the total, 78.9% had suspected cancer, 13.7% had a histopathological diagnosis, and 7.4% had another diagnosis. Eighteen patients were critically ill (10.3%). The median number of days to referral was two (0-42 days), five (0-45) for Lag-t-Dx, and eight (2-49) for Lag-t-Tx; the time was longer in patients with a non-oncological admission diagnosis (Lag-t-Dx 13 days and Lag-t-Tx 15 days, p = 0.004 and p = 0.049). Lag-t-Dx did not differ with respect to stage, but Lag-t-Tx was higher in critically ill patients. Conclusions: in general, this study found that the time to establish diagnosis and treatment in cancer patients is similar to that in other countries but varies according to the level of suspicion and the patient's clinical condition.

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