Table 3.
Frequency of missed opportunities for referral to a surgeon to discuss treatment.
| Event | Overall (N = 50) | Not referred (N = 25) | Referred (N = 25) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physician mentions no benefit to surgery | 21 (42%) | 11 (44%) | 10 (40%) | .77 |
| Decision for medical management | 11 (22%) | 7 (28%) | 4 (16%) | .3 |
| Decision to observe | 13 (26%) | 6 (24%) | 7 (28%) | .75 |
| Concerns over age | 7 (14%) | 5 (20%) | 2 (8%) | .22 |
| Concerns over comorbidity | 10 (20%) | 7 (28%) | 3 (12%) | .15 |
| “Mild or asymptomatic” disease | 7 (14%) | 3 (12%) | 4 (16%) | .68 |
| “Mild or stable hypercalcemia” | 7 (14%) | 4 (16%) | 3 (12%) | .68 |
| NIH criteria mentioned | 2 (4%) | 1 (4%) | 1 (4%) | 1 |
| Surgery not mentioned as treatment option | 10 (40%) | |||
| Patient chooses not to see surgeon | 4 (16%) | |||
| Health change does not prompt reconsideration of treatment | 18 (36%) | 10 (40%) | 8 (32%) | .56 |
| Surgeon feels patient would not benefit from surgery | 3 (12%) | |||
| Concern about surgical risk | 0 | |||
| Concern about age | 1 (4%) | |||
| Concern about comorbidity | 3 (12%) | |||
| Mild symptoms only | 0 | |||
| Mild hypercalcemia | 0 | |||
| Parathyroid hormone not high enough | 1 (4%) | |||
| NIH criteria | 1 (4%) |
Abbreviation: NIH, National Institutes of Health.