The effect of delay in diagnosis in patients with neuroendocrine tumors

Abstract

Aim: We investigated the association of delay in diagnosis with stage, grade, symptoms, primary site of the tumor and survival in patients with well-differentiated (G1G2) neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Patients and Methods: We collected data of 227 patients who were referred to the NKI-AVL and Westfriesgasthuis between 2003 and 2009. The date of onset and nature of first symptoms, as well as the date of NET diagnosis were reported in order to calculate the delay in diagnosis. Univariate linear regression analyses and Kaplan–Meier curves were performed to examine the association between delay in diagnosis, patient characteristics and survival. Results: The median delay in diagnosis was 16 (0–296) months. There was no association between delay and survival and stage of disease. Patients with a NET from the small bowel showed a longer delay than from other sites. Patients with a G1NET had longer delays than patients with G2NET. Patients with a longer delay were more likely to have psychological problems. Conclu...