Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in a German population

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis is key to prevent bowel damage in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Risk factor analyses linked with delayed diagnosis in European IBD patients are scarce and no data in German IBD patients exists.AIM To identify risk factors leading to prolonged diagnostic time in a German IBD cohort.METHODS Between 2012 and 2022,430 IBD patients from four Berlin hospitals were enrolled in a prospective study and asked to complete a 16-item questionnaire to determine features of the path leading to IBD diagnosis.Total diagnostic time was defined as the time from symptom onset to consulting a physician(patient waiting time)and from first consultation to IBD diagnosis(physician diagnostic time).Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for each time period.RESULTS The total diagnostic time was significantly longer in Crohn’s disease(CD)compared to ulcerative colitis(UC)patients(12.0 vs 4.0 mo;P<0.001),mainly due to increased physician diagnostic time(5.5 vs 1.0 mo;P<0.001).In a multivariate analysis,the predominant symptoms diarrhea(P=0.012)and skin lesions(P=0.028)as well as performed gastroscopy(P=0.042)were associated with longer physician diagnostic time in CD patients.In UC,fever was correlated(P=0.020)with shorter physician diagnostic time,while fatigue(P=0.011)and positive family history(P=0.046)were correlated with longer physician diagnostic time.CONCLUSION We demonstrated that CD patients compared to UC are at risk of long diagnostic delay.Future efforts should focus on shortening the diagnostic delay for a better outcome in these patients.

Liposarcoma Retro-Peritoneal in the General Surgery Department of the Hospital of the District of the Commune IV

Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas in the retroperitoneal/intra-abdominal regions represent 10% - 15% of all cases of soft tissue sarcoma. Liposarcomas, which are the most common histological type, account for 20% - 45% of retroperitoneal/intra-abdominal sarcoma cases, and 20% of liposarcomas cases are primary retroperitoneal liposarcomas. Surgical resection in case of malignancy remains the treatment of choice for liposarcomas, according to the guidelines of most major international companies. Our goal was to improve the management of retroperitoneal liposarcoma. This was a 65-year-old patient, with no medical or surgical history, who was referred to us for abdominal swelling, in whom clinical and paraclinical examination found retroperitoneal liposarcoma stage IV, and the surgical treatment consisted in making a tumor reduction. Conclusion: Retro-peritoneal liposarcoma is an undervalued malignant tumor, and the diagnosis is often late.

CT Scans and Delays in Diagnosis of Stroke in Senegal’s Regional Hospitals: A Multicenter Study of 655 Cases

Stroke represents the 2nd cause of mortality and 1st cause of physical disability in the adult population. In Senegal, it represents 30% of hospitalization and 2/3 of the mortality in the department of neurology in the capital city, Dakar. Objective: To specify the types of stroke and to evaluate diagnostic delays in Senegal’s regional hospitals. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, multicentric study for 4 years (from 2014 to 2017) including any patient presenting a clinical suspicion with a CT scan confirmation of stroke in one of the 9 regional hospitals in Senegal with a recruitment period of 6 months per hospital. CT scans were performed with a 16 slices machine in 6 hospitals, 4 slices in 2 hospitals and 2 slices in 1 hospital. We studied the types and location of strokes, the associated signs and the time from stroke onset to admission and the time from admission to CT scan. Results: 655 patients were retained including 322 men and 333 women for an M/F ratio of 0.96. The average age was 63 years (range: 7 years, 112 years). High blood pressure was noted in 59.2% of patients and diabetes in 10.7% of patients. Strokes were ischemic in 76% of cases involving the middle cerebral artery in 73% of cases and hemorrhagic in 24%, of which 80.7% were deep localized. A mass effect was noted in 7.5% of cases, an engagement in 6.9% of cases and ventricular hemorrhage in 2.7% of cases. The delay between the onset of the deficit and admission was less than 6 hours in 10.6% of patients. The time between the onset of stroke and admission to hospital was specified in 416 patients (63.5%) of the study population, it was less than 6 hours in 10.6% of patients, between 6 hours and 24 hours for 29.3% and more than 24 hours for 60.1%. Between admission and the CT scan, the time was precise in 459 patients (70%), it was less than 6 hours in 37.9%, between 6 hours and 24 hours in 43.6 % and more than 24 hours in 18.5%. Conclusion: CT is central to the diagnosis of stroke in rural areas. However, there is a significant delay in diagnosis and management.

Impact of a colorectal cancer screening program implantation on delays and prognosis of non-screening detected colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND The implementation of a colorectal cancer(CRC)screening programme may increase the awareness of Primary Care Physicians,reduce the diagnostic delay in CRC detected outside the scope of the screening programme and thus improve prognosis.AIM To determine the effect of implementation of a CRC screening programme on diagnostic delays and prognosis of CRC detected outside the scope of a screening programme.METHODS We performed a retrospective intervention study with a pre-post design.We identified 322 patients with incident and confirmed CRC in the pre-implantation cohort(June 2014–May 2015)and 285 in the post-implantation cohort(June 2017-May 2018)in the Cancer Registry detected outside the scope of a CRC screening programme.In each patient we calculated the different healthcare diagnostics delays:global,primary and secondary healthcare,referral and colonoscopyrelated delays.In addition,we collected the initial healthcare that evaluated the patient,the home location(urban/rural),and the CRC stage at diagnosis.We determined the two-year survival and we performed a multivariate proportional hazard regression analysis to determine the variables associated with survival.RESULTS We did not detect any differences in the patient or CRC baseline-related variables.A total of 20.1%of patients was detected with metastatic disease.There was a significant increase in direct referral to colonoscopy from primary healthcare(25.5%,35.8%;P=0.04)in the post-implantation cohort.Diagnostic delay was reduced by 24 d(106.64±148.84 days,82.84±109.31 d;P=0.02)due to the reduction in secondary healthcare delay(46.01±111.65 d;29.20±60.83 d;P=0.02).However,we did not find any differences in CRC stage at diagnosis or in two-year survival(70.3%;P=0.9).Variables independently associated with twoyear risk of death were age(Hazard Ratio-HR:1.06,95%CI:1.04-1.07),CRC stage(II HR:2.17,95%CI:1.07-4.40;III HR:3.07,95%CI:1.56-6.08;IV HR:19.22,95%CI:9.86-37.44;unknown HR:9.24,95%CI:4.27-19.99),initial healthcare consultation(secondary HR:2.93,95%CI:1.01-8.55;emergency department HR:2.06,95%CI:0.67-6.34),hospitalization during the diagnostic process(HR:1.67,95%CI:1.17-2.38)and urban residence(HR:1.44,95%CI:1.06-1.98).CONCLUSION Although implementation of a CRC screening programme can reduce diagnostic delays for CRC detected in symptomatic patients,this has no effect on CRC stage or survival.

Stereotactic Core Biopsy Following Screening Mammography: A Danish Retrospective National Cohort Study

Background: Since introducing stereotactic core biopsy (SCB) on breast lesions in Denmark, no national follow-up of the procedure has been executed. Purpose: To evaluate performance of SCB in Danish mammography screening. 3 areas were selected for evaluation: diagnostic value of SCB, performance of the Danish 7-tier mamma-radiological classifications system, DKBI-RADS, and diagnostic delay for SCB-diagnosis. Materials & Methods: Danish retrospective national cohort study including 2195 screening patients undergoing SCB. Study period: 01.01.2010 to 30.09.2012. Patients were identified from The Danish National Patient Register. Pathology-data were obtained from the Danish Pathology Database. Radiological-data according to DKBI-RADS were recorded. Diagnostic delay from clinical mammography until diagnosis was registered. Results: 173 SCBs indicated cancer;all operated with 3 cases finalized as benign. 1296 cases were determined benign with diagnostic surgery in 81 cases of which 31 were concluded pre-malignant/malignant. Correlation between DKBI-RADS and pathology diagnosis: 329 of 485 DKBI-RADS3, 227 of 450 DKBI-RADS4 were benign. 4 of 16 DKBI-RADS5 were benign. The diagnostic value of pre-malignant/malignant SCB related to results from surgery showed 94.4% sensitivity and a positive predictive value of 93.9%. Median diagnostic-time of single-biopsy was 13 days. Conclusion: The performance of SCB in Denmark is comparable to international studies regarding the diagnostic value of malignant SCB. The study indicates that DKBI-RADS classifications are not used consistently regarding micro-calcifications selected in screening-mammographies. Diagnostic delay is acceptable, subject to EUSOMA specifications, regarding single-biopsy.

Diagnostic delay and associated factors among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania

Background:Tanzania is among the 30 countries with the highest tuberculosis(TB)burdens.Because TB has a long infectious period,early diagnosis is not only important for reducing transmission,but also for improving treatment outcomes.We assessed diagnostic delay and associated factors among infectious TB patients.Methods:We interviewed new smear-positive adult pulmonary TB patients enrolled in an ongoing TB cohort study in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania,between November 2013 and June 2015.TB patients were interviewed to collect information on socio-demographics,socio-economic status,health-seeking behaviour,and residential geocodes.We categorized diagnostic delay into≤3 or>3 weeks.We used logistic regression models to identify risk factors for diagnostic delay,presented as crude(OR)and adjusted Odds Ratios(aOR).We also assessed association between geographical distance(incremental increase of 500 meters between household and the nearest pharmacy)with binary outcomes.Results:We analysed 513 patients with a median age of 34 years(interquartile range 27-41);353(69%)were men.Overall,444(87%)reported seeking care from health care providers prior to TB diagnosis,of whom 211(48%)sought care>2 times.Only six(1%)visited traditional healers before TB diagnosis.Diagnostic delay was positively associated with absence of chest pain(aOR=7.97,95%confidence intervals[CI]:3.15-20.19;P<0.001),and presence of hemoptysis(aOR=25.37,95%CI:11.15-57.74;P<0.001)and negatively associated with use of medication prior to TB diagnosis(aOR=0.31,95%CI:0.14-0.71;P=0.01).Age,sex,HIV status,education level,household income,and visiting health care facilities(HCFs)were not associated with diagnostic delay.Patients living far from pharmacies were less likely to visit a HCF(incremental increase of distance versus visit to any facility:OR=0.51,95%CI:0.28-0.96;P=0.037).Conclusions:TB diagnostic delay was common in Dar es Salaam,and was more likely among patients without prior use of medication and presenting with hemoptysis.Geographical distance to HCFs may have an impact on health-seeking behaviour.Increasing community awareness of TB signs and symptoms could further reduce diagnostic delays and interrupt TB transmission.