Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40643868›Full record

Observational studyClinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico2026

Accelerating diagnosis and refining referral criteria in head and neck cancer: insights from a multidisciplinary fast-track pathway.

Pedro Rodríguez Lorenzana, Nicolás González Poggioli, Íñigo Colina Astigarraga, Laura Arias Soilán, Laura Abella Bartrolí, Ángel Iglesias Castro, Miguel Mayo Yáñez, Pablo Parente Arias

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Impact of fast-track pathway implementation on time to diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, and overall survival in head and neck cancer.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Pedro Rodríguez LorenzanaOtorhinolaryngolog y and Head and Neck Surgery Department, Research Group in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias, 84, 15006, A Coruña, Spain. plorenro@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-4343-5269
Nicolás González PoggioliOtorhinolaryngolog y and Head and Neck Surgery Department, Research Group in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias, 84, 15006, A Coruña, Spain.
Íñigo Colina AstigarragaOral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, As Xubias, 84, 15006, A Coruña, Spain.
Laura Arias SoilánOtorhinolaryngolog y and Head and Neck Surgery Department, Research Group in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias, 84, 15006, A Coruña, Spain.
Laura Abella BartrolíOtorhinolaryngolog y and Head and Neck Surgery Department, Research Group in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias, 84, 15006, A Coruña, Spain.
Ángel Iglesias CastroOtorhinolaryngolog y and Head and Neck Surgery Department, Research Group in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias, 84, 15006, A Coruña, Spain.
Miguel Mayo YáñezOtorhinolaryngolog y and Head and Neck Surgery Department, Research Group in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias, 84, 15006, A Coruña, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1829-6597
Pablo Parente AriasOtorhinolaryngolog y and Head and Neck Surgery Department, Research Group in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias, 84, 15006, A Coruña, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3889-3177

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDespite advancements, 54% of head and neck cancer patients in Europe are diagnosed at advanced stages. The fast-track head and neck cancer pathway (FTHNCP) was implemented in 2018 in our hospital to reduce diagnostic delays and improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the FTHNCP in reducing diagnostic delays and identifying factors associated with oncological diagnoses.

methodsA retrospective observational study analyzed 1453 patients referred via the FTHNCP between January 2018 and August 2023. Data collected included demographics, symptoms, diagnostic tests, and timelines from symptom onset to treatment initiation. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with oncological diagnoses, focusing on variables, such as age, gender, toxic habits, and clinical presentation.

resultsThe median age of the cohort was 61 years, with 50.64% being male. The average time from referral to specialist consultation was 11.59 days. Among the referred patients, 19.89% received an oncological diagnosis, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most frequent (11.51%). Statistical analysis identified significant associations between malignancy and male gender, older age, toxic habits, and the presence of oral ulcers.

conclusionsThe FTHNCP demonstrates potential for early diagnosis of head and neck cancer, significantly reducing waiting times for specialist evaluation. However, the high proportion of benign diagnoses or absence of pathology highlights the need to optimize referral criteria. Incorporating risk scoring systems based on epidemiological and clinical factors could enhance diagnostic specificity. A multidisciplinary approach and further studies are recommended to refine the pathway and improve diagnostic efficiency.

Indexed as

Critical PathwaysDelayed DiagnosisHead and Neck NeoplasmsReferral and ConsultationSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTime FactorsEarly diagnosisHead and neck neoplasmsMultidisciplinary teamsReferral and consultationRisk assessment

Identifiers

PMID40643868

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.