Cancer suspicion in general practice: The role of symptoms and patient characteristics, and their association with subsequent cancer (British Journal of General Practice (2013) DOI: 10.3399/bjgp13X671614)

摘要

In the September 2013 BJGP, the article by Scheel Bl, et al. Cancer suspicion in general practice: the role of symptoms and patient characteristics, and their association with subsequent cancer. Br J Gen Pract 2013; DOI: 10.3399/b]gp 13X671614-, the authors reported 263 patients with cancer, 106 of whom presented warning signs of cancer (WSC). Further detailed analysis of follow-up data about the diagnostic procedure has revealed that two patients without any WSC recording had established, progressive cancer instead of a new cancer or a new recurrence of cancer, and they were thus protocol deviant. Therefore the correct number of patients with cancer is 261. Also, one patient with lymphoma turned out to bea new case of cancer instead of the recurrent case as reported in the follow-up questionnaire. As the three patients in question had no WSC and therefore no recording of cancer suspicion, there are no changes in the conclusions of the study. The online version has been corrected.