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. 2005 Sep 27;93(8):905–908. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6602798

Table 6. Benign diagnoses in patients referred urgently for suspected lung cancer.

  Frequency
Condition 1999–2000 2000–2001 2001–2002
Conditions that can usually be managed in primary care
Infection 18 41 83
COPD 3 3 7
Goitre 3 1 0
Normal variant 1 1 9
ENT cause 1 3 5
CCF 1 2 2
       
Conditions usually managed by respiratory physicians (or complex)
Vascular markings 3 4 3
TB (old or active) 3 7 4
Benign lung tumour 1 0 5
Benign pleural shadows 5 6 17
Sarcoidosis 1 3 2
Benign lung shadow 5 0 15
Interstitial lung disease 4 19 9
Bronchiectasis 3 9 13
Other 0 4 13
DNA, died or refused tests 4 6 10
No diagnosis 6 3 21
       
Total 62 112 218

COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; TB=tuberculosis.