Rubin M, Zer M, Dintsman M
Isr J Med Sci. 1980 Sep-Oct;16(9-10):641-5.
One hundred cases of malignant tumor of the colon and rectum were reviewed to determine the delay interval from onset of symptoms to operation and the factors contributing to the delay. The mean overall delay interval was 7.43 months, which is relatively long as compared with findings reported in the Western literature during recent years. In 35%, there was a mean delay of six months because of failure of the patient to consult a physician in the early stages of the disease. More serious was the finding in 62% of the patients of a doctor-caused delay of six months, because of hasty, erroneous diagnosis made without comprehensive investigation. Administrative factors caused a delay of about two months in 24% of the patients. Our findings indicated a direct correlation between duration of the delay and spread of the malignancy, with an evident tendency for a shorter delay interval among patients with carcinoma classified as Dukes' stage A. Both the public and the general physician must be educated as to the importance of early consultation and careful consideration of the patient's complaints so as to reach the correct diagnosis as soon as possible.
回顾了100例结肠和直肠癌患者，以确定从症状出现到手术的延迟时间以及导致延迟的因素。总体平均延迟时间为7.43个月，与近年来西方文献报道的结果相比相对较长。35%的患者因在疾病早期未咨询医生而平均延迟了6个月。更严重的是，62%的患者因医生未经全面检查匆忙做出错误诊断而导致延迟6个月。管理因素导致24%的患者延迟约2个月。我们的研究结果表明，延迟时间与恶性肿瘤的扩散之间存在直接关联，Dukes' A期癌患者的延迟时间明显较短。必须对公众和普通医生进行教育，使其了解早期咨询以及认真考虑患者主诉以便尽快做出正确诊断的重要性。
