Table 3. Use of primary-care investigations and the NICE guideline referral category based on clinical presentation, by cancer.
| |
|
|
GP investigations performed |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action specified by NICE guidelines under NICE CG27 based on patient characteristics and clinical presentation | All N | N | % | |
| Colorectal | Mandated referral under NICE guidelines (or good clinical practice) | 208 | 99 | 47.6 |
| Possible referral under NICE guidelines | 1105 | 581 | 52.6 | |
| Mandated investigation under NICE guidelines | 200 | 90 | 45.0 | |
| Possible investigation under NICE guidelines | 0 | |||
| |
No action under NICE guidelines |
598 |
374 |
62.5 |
| Ovarian | Mandated referral under NICE guidelines (or good clinical practice) | 31 | 12 | 38.7 |
| Possible referral under NICE guidelines | 5 | 0 | ||
| Mandated investigation under NICE guidelines | 26 | 16 | 61.5 | |
| Possible investigation under NICE guidelines | 0 | |||
| |
No action under NICE guidelines |
283 |
212 |
74.9 |
| Lung | Mandated referral under NICE guidelines (or good clinical practice) | 76 | 39 | 51.3 |
| Possible referral under NICE guidelines | 0 | |||
| Mandated investigation under NICE guidelines | 223 | 195 | 87.4 | |
| Possible investigation under NICE guidelines | 916 | 779 | 85.0 | |
| |
No action under NICE guidelines |
279 |
187 |
67.0 |
| Oesophageal | Mandated referral under NICE guidelines (or good clinical practice) | 328 | 121 | 36.9 |
| Possible referral under NICE guidelines | 9 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Mandated investigation under NICE guidelines | 0 | |||
| Possible investigation under NICE guidelines | 69 | 36 | 52.2 | |
| |
No action under NICE guidelines |
107 |
63 |
58.9 |
| Pancreatic | Mandated referral under NICE guidelines (or good clinical practice) | 79 | 59 | 74.7 |
| Possible referral under NICE guidelines | 100 | 65 | 65.0 | |
| Mandated investigation under NICE guidelines | 0 | |||
| Possible investigation under NICE guidelines | 0 | |||
| |
No action under NICE guidelines |
148 |
122 |
82.4 |
| Stomach | Mandated referral under NICE guidelines (or good clinical practice) | 92 | 45 | 48.9 |
| Possible referral under NICE guidelines | 21 | 15 | 71.4 | |
| Mandated investigation under NICE guidelines | 0 | |||
| Possible investigation under NICE guidelines | 40 | 26 | 65.0 | |
| No action under NICE guidelines | 93 | 62 | 66.7 | |
Abbreviations: GP=general practitioner; NICE=National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.