Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Lung cancer diagnostic and treatment intervals in the United States: a health care disparity?
Lung cancer diagnostic and treatment delays have been described for several patient populations. However, few studies have analyzed these intervals among patients treated in contemporary health care systems in the United States. We therefore studied the timing of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment at a U.S. medical center providing care to a diverse patient population within two different hospital systems. ⋯ Intervals between suspicion, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer vary widely among patients. Health care system factors, such as hospital type, largely account for these discrepancies. In this study, these intervals do not appear to be associated with clinical outcomes.