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Changes from 1992 to 2002 in the pretreatment delay for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of larynx or pharynx: A Danish nationwide survey from DAHANCA

In Denmark, a general impression of prolonged pretreatment delay for patients with head and neck cancer led to a nationwide study of time spans from symptom debut over first health care contact to start of treatment. Charts of consecutive new patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and larynx, seen at the five Danish oncology centers in January–April 1992 and 2002, respectively, were reviewed. Of the 288 patients identified, definitive treatment was radiotherapy in 264 cases, surgery in one case. Twenty-three patients had neither surgery nor radiotherapy. Total time from first health care contact to start of definitive treatment was significantly longer in 2002 than in 1992 (median 70 versus 50 days, p < 0.001). There was no significantly difference in time used for diagnosis. Time for treatment preparation and planning was 46 days in 2002 versus 31 days in 1992 (p < 0.001). Significantly more diagnostic procedures (CT, MR, US, PET) were done in 2002. In conclusion, this nationwide study showed that waiting time before start of radiotherapy was significantly longer in 2002 compared to 1992. An increasing number of imaging procedures including CT-based dose planning was observed. The prolongation was mainly related to shortage of radiotherapy capacity. The three weeks extra pretreatment delay could theoretically lead to a 10% lower tumor control probability in 2002 compared to 1992.