Agaba A E, Bagul A, Adenugba J B, Kenogbon J I
Breast Unit, Barnsley District General Hospital, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK.
Breast. 2002 Oct;11(5):430-3. doi: 10.1054/brst.2002.0449.
A prospective study aimed at assessing the effect of introduction of a fast-tract referral system for patients with suspected breast cancer and the quality of GP referrals in Barnsley.
Between February and April 2001, 70 consecutive patients with symptomatic breast disorders were seen in the fast-access breast clinic. Mean age=46 years (range 18-84). Ten non-urgent referrals seen in the study period were included in the analysis to determine the appropriateness of such referrals. Three screening criteria were used to select high-risk patients and data were recorded prospectively. Patients were classified as urgent, soon or routine based on symptomatology.
Of the 70 patients seen, 20 were considered as urgent, 20 as soon and 30 as routine. Forty patients were seen within the '2-week wait' period. Twelve were classified on clinical grounds as malignant. Mean waiting time to see the GP was 2.2 days. Mean waiting time to see the specialist breast surgeon was 6.6 days.
A fast-track system for suspected breast cancer has led to a significant reduction in the time to diagnosis and initiation of a definitive treatment, with most made within 2 weeks. Fast-track referrals is not appropriate in all cases.
一项前瞻性研究，旨在评估为疑似乳腺癌患者引入快速转诊系统的效果以及巴恩斯利地区全科医生转诊的质量。
2001年2月至4月期间，70例有症状的乳腺疾病患者在快速就诊乳腺诊所就诊。平均年龄=46岁（范围18 - 84岁）。研究期间所见的10例非紧急转诊纳入分析，以确定此类转诊的适宜性。使用三项筛查标准选择高危患者，并前瞻性记录数据。根据症状将患者分为紧急、尽快或常规三类。
70例就诊患者中，20例被视为紧急，20例为尽快，30例为常规。40例患者在“2周等待期”内就诊。12例经临床诊断为恶性。看全科医生的平均等待时间为2.2天。看乳腺专科外科医生的平均等待时间为6.6天。
疑似乳腺癌的快速转诊系统显著缩短了诊断时间和开始确定性治疗的时间，大多数在2周内完成。快速转诊并非在所有情况下都适用。
