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The value of chest X-ray in the Scottish Referral Guidelines for suspected head and neck cancer in 2144 patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2018

P Fingland ,
V Carswell ,
T Tikka ,
C M Douglas  and
J Montgomery
P Fingland
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
V Carswell
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
T Tikka
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
C M Douglas*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
J Montgomery
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Ms Catriona Douglas, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK E-mail: catriona.douglas2@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective:

In Scotland, patients with suspected head and neck cancer are referred on the basis of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, rather than the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. A chest X-ray should be requested by the general practitioner at the same time as referral for persistent hoarseness. The evidence for this is level 4.

Methods:

This audit identified adherence to this recommendation and X-ray results. All ‘urgent suspicion of cancer’ referrals to the ENT department in the National Health Service Greater Glasgow and Clyde for 2015–2016 were audited.

Results:

Persistent hoarseness for more than 3 weeks instigated referral in 318 patients (15.7 per cent). Chest X-ray was performed in 120 patients (38 per cent), which showed: no abnormality in 116 (96.7 per cent), features of infection in 2 (1.7 per cent) and something else in 2 patients (1.7 per cent). No chest X-ray altered the management of a patient.

Conclusion:

Performance of chest X-ray does not alter management and its removal from the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer is recommended.

Keywords

NeoplasmsHead And NeckPractice GuidelineMass Chest X-Ray
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 5 , May 2018 , pp. 434 - 438
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2018 

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Footnotes

Presented at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Student Research Meeting, 9 December 2016, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

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