Benefits of a well-structured diagnostic process in colon cancer.

Introduction: Preoperative work-up in colorectal cancer is comprehensive and can be time consuming. In our institution, the preoperative track for colorectal patients was reorganized in order to reduce the therapeutic delay and the number of outpatient clinic visits. We assessed the impact upon the patient outcomes.

Methods: All consecutive patients with colon cancer who entered the reorganized preoperative track between January 2008 and December 2009 (n = 87) were retrospectively compared with a consecutively diagnosed traditionally evaluated patient group diagnosed between January 2005 and December 2006 (n = 108). Time between diagnostic procedures and surgery as well as needed number of preoperative outpatient department visits were calculated. All rectal malignancies, patients who received preoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and patients who underwent emergency procedures were excluded from analysis.

Results: Time between colonoscopy and surgery was reduced from [median (25-75%)] 44 (34-54) to 27 (21-34) days, p < 0.001. The number of outpatient department visits declined from 6 (5-7) to 3 (3-4), p < 0.001. Time between first diagnostic test and colonoscopy was reduced from 44 (11-68) to 9 days (0-30), p < 0.001. Time between first diagnostic test and operation was reduced from 85.5 (56-120.5) to 42 days (28-62), p < 0.001. Before the reorganizations, 7% of colonoscopies were ordered by GPs and went up afterwards to 60%.

Conclusion: Reorganization of traditional logistic routes for patients diagnosed with colon cancer reduces therapeutic delay and improves care. Moreover, the surgeon, gastroenterologist and oncologist can focus on the oncologic patient and his/her family instead of having to perform administrative tasks.