ArticleBMC cancer2017
Characteristics and outcome in patients with non-specific symptoms and signs of cancer referred to a fast track cancer patient pathway; a retrospective cohort study.
Article in BMC cancer, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- The pathway and characteristics of patients with non-specific symptoms of cancer: a systematic review.BMC cancer · 2022Pooled it
- Early Needs Assessment in Patients With Non-Specific Symptoms of Cancer: An Explorative Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026Article
- Pan-Cancer Detection Through DNA Methylation Profiling Using Enzymatic Conversion Library Preparation with Targeted Sequencing.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Incidence of spine-related diagnoses in Danish children: a nationwide registry-based study of hospital data.European journal of pediatrics · 2025Article
- Doing 'detective work' to find a cancer: how are non-specific symptom pathways for cancer investigation organised, and what are the implications for safety and quality of care? A multisite qualitative approach.BMJ quality & safety · 2025Article
- Diagnostic flow for all patients referred with non-specific symptoms of cancer to a diagnostic centre in Denmark: A descriptive study.The European journal of general practice · 2024Article
- Risk of cancer and serious disease in Danish patients with urgent referral for serious non-specific symptoms and signs of cancer in Funen 2014-2021.British journal of cancer · 2024Article
- Patients from general practice with non-specific cancer symptoms: a retrospective study of symptoms and imaging.BJGP open · 2024Article
- Use and diagnostic outcomes of cancer patient pathways in Denmark - is the place of initial diagnostic work-up an important factor?BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Economic impact of spectral body imaging in diagnosis of patients suspected for occult cancer.Insights into imaging · 2021Article
- Symptoms and signs of colorectal cancer, with differences between proximal and distal colon cancer: a prospective cohort study of diagnostic accuracy in primary care.BMC family practice · 2021Article
- Non-specific symptoms and signs of cancer: different organisations of a cancer patient pathway in Denmark.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2021Article
- Time Intervals Under the Lens at Sweden's First Diagnostic Center for Primary Care Patients With Nonspecific Symptoms of Cancer. A Comparison With Matched Control Patients.Frontiers in oncology · 2020Article
- Article
- Diagnosing cancer in patients with 'non-alarm' symptoms: Learning from diagnostic care innovations in Denmark.Cancer epidemiology · 2018Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn 2012 a new cancer patient pathway for patients with non-specific symptoms and signs of cancer (NSSC-CPP) was introduced in Denmark. Limited information is available about the patients referred to the NSSC-CPP and the investigational course. The aim was to describe the population and the investigational course, estimate the prevalence of cancer and one-year mortality, and identify factors associated with a subsequent cancer diagnosis in patients referred to the NSSC-CPP.
methodThis cohort study included patients with at least one visit at the NSSC-CPP at North Zealand Hospital in Denmark (NOH) from October 1st 2013 to September 30th 2014. Data was based on retrospective reviews of the patient files. Logistic regression identified factors associated with a subsequent cancer diagnosis. Multivariate analyses were adjusted by age, gender, smoking status and alcohol consumption. Kaplan-Meier survival plots were made at one-year follow-up.
resultsEight hundred twenty-five patients were included with a median age of 67 years, 47.4% were male. Prevalence of cancer within one year was 16.7% (138/825). 70.3% (97/138) were solid cancers and 29.7% (41/138) were haematological cancers. During the investigational course 76.7% went through advanced diagnostic imaging (ultrasound, CT, FDG-PET/CT or MRI). Anaemia (OR1.63 CI1.02-2.60), leucocytosis (OR 2.06 CI 1.34-3.15), thrombocytopenia (OR 4.13 CI 2.02-8.47) and elevated LDH (OR 1.64 CI 1.07-2.52) and CRP (OR 2.56 CI 1.66-3.95) were associated with a cancer diagnosis when adjusting for possible confounders. No single non-specific symptom was significantly associated with a cancer diagnosis. One-year mortality for those diagnosed with cancer was 44.2%.
conclusionThe prevalence of cancer matches that of another NSSC-CPP in Denmark. Deviations in basic biochemistry were associated with a higher probability of underlying cancer and could possibly raise the level of suspicion of malignancy among physicians. High one-year mortality was seen amongst patients diagnosed with cancer.
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