TIMELY lung cancer diagnosis and treatment are essential for improved survival, but new research shows that patients with suspicious lung nodules continue to experience critical delays at multiple stages of care. In a study of 157 patients with suspected Stage I or II primary lung cancer, researchers found that the longest delays occurred between consultation and biopsy and between diagnosis and treatment, raising concerns about care coordination and disparities among patient groups.
The study, conducted at a single academic medical center between 2020 and 2022, examined patients whose nodules were either discovered incidentally or through lung cancer screening. The median time from referral to diagnosis was 34 days, while the median time from referral to treatment stretched to 65 days. Within these timelines, the consultation-to-biopsy phase lasted a median of 20 days, and the diagnosis-to-treatment phase extended to a median of 28 days.
Notably, delays were linked to several demographic and clinical factors. Longer time from referral to diagnosis was associated with being Black or widowed, while longer time from referral to treatment was associated with female gender, widowed status, increased frailty, higher BMI, better performance status, use of bronchoscopic biopsy, and treatment with stereotactic body radiotherapy.
The study’s diverse patient population included 59% female and 53% Black participants, with an average age of 70. Treatment consisted of surgery in just over half of patients and stereotactic body radiotherapy in 44%. Importantly, more than one in ten nodules turned out to be benign.
The findings highlight how social vulnerability and clinical decision-making contribute to care delays. Researchers suggest that improving multidisciplinary coordination, particularly for underserved populations, may help close these critical gaps and speed up access to definitive treatment for suspicious lung nodules.
Reference: Dooher J et al. Delays in phases of care from identification to treatment of suspicious lung nodules. Chest. 2024;165:480–489.
