Analysis of a cancer-care based diagnosis program for lymphoma

Rapid time to diagnosis and consultation are important parameters in cancer care for patient satisfaction and survival. Historically, most cancer centers only accepted patients with confirmed cancer diagnoses leading to diagnostic and treatment delays. We created a comprehensive Lymphoma Diagnosis Program (LDP) within the provincial cancer care service to expedite lymphoma diagnoses. The results of the first 2 years of the LDP are summarized. The LDP successfully identified patients at high likelihood of lymphoma with 70% of accepted patients having malignancy (57% lymphoma; 13% other cancers). The use of a minimum 2.0 cm short axis measure lymph node for entry into the program proved useful. The radiological core needle biopsy diagnostic approach reduced time to diagnosis compared to pre-LDP timelines. Hospitalizations during the diagnostic process were also reduced. A cancer-care based diagnostic program for lymphoma can successfully improve the time to diagnosis and consultation for lymphoma patients.