ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Head and neck tumors can be easily recognized through clinical evaluation. However, they are often diagnosed at advanced stages.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the delay from the patient's initial symptoms to the definitive treatment.
METHODS:
Retrospective study of patients enrolled in 2011 and 2012. A questionnaire was filled in about socioeconomic aspects, patient history, tumor data, professionals who evaluated the patients, and the respective time delays.
RESULTS:
The following time delay medians were observed: ten months between symptom onset and the first consultation; four weeks between the latter and the first consultation with a specialist; four weeks between the specialist consultation and diagnosis attainment; and 12 weeks between diagnosis and the start of treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
Most head and neck tumors are diagnosed at advanced stages, due to patient and health care factors.
Keywords:
Delayed diagnosis; Head and neck neoplasms; Squamous cell carcinoma; Time factors; Primary health care; Prognosis