Isolated headache is not a reliable indicator for brain cancer: the 2-week wait pathway for suspected CNS malignancies.
Clin Med (Lond)
; 21(6): e648-e655, 2021 11.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34862227
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The UK uses the 2-week-wait (2WW) pathway for rapid access to cancer services. It is unclear whether this is effective for brain cancer.METHODS:
We retrospectively analysed all 2WW referrals for brain cancer between 2009 and 2016 in a district general neurology department. We compared clinical presentations to national guidelines and diagnoses of brain cancer.RESULTS:
Of the 153 cases analysed, four brain cancers were identified two glioblastomas and two metastases. Headaches were the most common referral. The end diagnosis was mostly migraine. The highest positive predictive value was for behavioural/personality change (5.3%) and sub-acute neurological deficit (3.2%). There was no significant association between any symptom(s) and brain cancer.CONCLUSION:
The 2WW pathway is not effective in the diagnosis of brain cancer. Resources are better directed towards clinical research and treatment trials. Headache remains the most common reason for referral although it is not yet a reliable indicator of brain cancer.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Derivación y Consulta
/
Neoplasias Encefálicas
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Med (Lond)
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido