Table 2.
Diagnostic procedures and times elapsed between requesting and performing them by study period.⁎
| Procedure | Prepandemic (Jan 1–Feb 19)a |
P for difference | Pandemic (Feb 26–Apr 22) |
P for difference | Postpandemic (Apr 29–Jul 8)b |
P value a vs. b |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Referrals (n = 384) | Referrals (n = 193) | Referrals (n = 450) | ||||
| CT scan, n (%) | 117 (30.47) | <0.001 | 37 (19.17) | <0.001 | 149 (33.11) | 0.114 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 3.54 ± 1.14 | <0.001 | 13.24 ± 9.33 | <0.001 | 8.67 ± 5.27 | <0.001 |
| MRI, n (%) | 13 (3.39) | 0.200 | 3 (1.55) | 0.163 | 18 (4.00) | 0.224 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 6.27 ± 3.41 | <0.001 | 18.66 ± 10.24 | <0.001 | 10.80 ± 5.99 | <0.001 |
| Ultrasonography, n (%) | 89 (23.18) | <0.001 | 26 (13.47) | <0.001 | 113 (25.11) | 0.095 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 2.53 ± 1.02 | <0.001 | 11.50 ± 8.00 | <0.001 | 6.94 ± 4.51 | <0.001 |
| Gastrointestinal endoscopy and EUS, n (%) | 136 (35.42) | <0.001 | 85 (44.04) | <0.001 | 158 (35.11) | 0.490 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 6.41 ± 4.30 | <0.001 | 15.45 ± 10.47 | <0.001 | 10.64 ± 11.31 | <0.001 |
| 18F-FDG PET/CT, n (%) | 9 (2.34) | <0.001 | 20 (10.36) | 0.113 | 32 (7.11) | 0.051 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 3.93 ± 1.88 | <0.001 | 11.31 ± 6.19 | <0.001 | 5.90 ± 2.48 | 0.050 |
| Bronchoscopy and EBUS, n (%) | 13 (3.39) | 0.181 | 4 (2.07) | 0.142 | 19 (4.22) | 0.184 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 5.37 ± 3.25 | <0.001 | 9.39 ± 4.28 | 0.040 | 7.29 ± 3.82 | 0.060 |
| Bone scintigraphy, n (%) | 10 (2.60) | 0.203 | 2 (1.04) | 0.139 | 14 (3.11) | 0.190 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 3.24 ± 1.46 | <0.001 | 8.62 ± 5.25 | <0.001 | 4.78 ± 2.17 | 0.115 |
| Biopsy & cytology, n (%)† | 86 (22.40) | <0.001 | 15 (7.77) | <0.001 | 118 (26.22) | 0.072 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 2.75 ± 0.55 | <0.001 | 5.47 ± 2.34 | 0.012 | 3.41 ± 1.10 | 0.126 |
| Bone marrow aspiration & biopsy, n (%) | 14 (3.65) | 0.146 | 3 (1.55) | 0.223 | 12 (2.67) | 0.149 |
| Wait time (days), mean ± SD | 4.11 ± 2.13 | 0.109 | 5.83 ± 3.08 | 0.252 | 5.26 ± 2.91 | 0.142 |
CT scan, computed tomography scan; MRI, magnetic resonance image; EUS, gastrointestinal endoscopic ultrasonography; 18F-FDG PET/CT, positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro- d-glucose integrated with computed tomography; EBUS, endobronchial ultrasonography.
Examinations not included are, among others, capsule endoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, virtual colonoscopy, echocardiography, high-resolution esophageal manometry, pulmonary function tests, and electromyography.
Mostly including fine-needle aspiration cytology and surgical biopsy of peripheral lymph nodes and lumps, and CT- or ultrasound-guided biopsy of abnormal areas of tissue and organs.