A Trial of Fast Access to Transvaginal Ultrasound Through General Practice for Earlier Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

Overview

Background Ovarian cancer (OC) is a disease with a poor prognosis due to diagnosis at late stage. Early-stage OC presents with non-specific and vague symptoms and therefore OC usually is not detected until reaching an advanced stage. From 2008, Danish general practitioners (GPs) could urgently refer patients suspected of having OC to standardized cancer patient pathways (CPPs). The CPP is designed for women presenting specific signs and alarm symptoms, and is supposed to shorten the pathway from suspicion to treatment. Hypothesis Direct access to fast transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) through general practice is feasible in earlier diagnosis of OC. Aim The aim of this study is to assess the implementation and clinical implications of direct referral access to fast TVU through general practice. Materials and methods The study is a feasibility study and GPs from in Central Denmark Region are offered direct access to fast TVU for women aged 40 years or more who present symptoms that could origin from OC, but which are not classified as alarm symptoms. The GPs will receive education about updated knowledge on OC symptoms and the use of the guideline for earlier diagnosis of OC in general practice. The study period is 1 year. Perspectives There is a great need to test rational strategies for diagnosing OC at an earlier stage in order to improve survival. For women who do not fulfil access criteria for the CPP, and for whom the main prospect for earlier diagnosis is improved identification of symptomatic OC, this study may provide important new knowledge of how to facilitate the diagnostics of OC in the future and reduce time to diagnosis and improve survival.

Background Around 550 ovarian cancers (OCs) are diagnosed yearly in Denmark. Still, OC is the fourth commonest cause of cancer death amongst women in Denmark. Epithelial ovarian cancers (carcinomas) account for more than 90% of all OCs and Denmark has the second highest incidence in the world (15 per 100.000 women) with a life-time risk around 2%. The mean age at diagnosis is 63 years, and 80% are postmenopausal. In Denmark, 74% are diagnosed in FIGO stage III-IV and therefore at the time of diagnosis have regional or metastatic spread. Five-year survival with FIGO stage I is 83%, stage II 62%, stage III 23% and stage IV 11%. Thus, OC is detected at advanced stages with a very poor prognosis. In 2008, a national fast-track system for cancer patients was established to ensure fast diagnosis and initiation of treatment. The fast-track system or cancer patient pathway (CPP) implies that patients presenting 'alarm' symptoms of e.g. OC will be referred immediately for diagnostic workup; no more than 14 days must pass from referral to initiation of treatment. Only about one quarter of the women with OC are referred primarily through this route. Therefore, additional accelerated routes are needed for the majority of women with OC. A possibility could be access to fast TVU through general practice for women presenting with vague and non-specific symptoms that may represent underlying OC. Aim Develop and conduct training for general practitioners (GPs) in the latest knowledge of OC symptomatology. And at the same time investigate the feasibility and clinical implications in general practice of direct referral access to fast TVU, intended for women presenting with vague and non-specific symptoms. Material and methods GPs in Central Denmark Region are offered direct access to fast TVU for women aged 40 years or more who present vague and non-specific symptoms that could origin from OC, but which are not classified as alarm symptoms. Shortly afterwards all the GPs are offered a short lecture on OC symptomatology and instructions for the use of TVU for earlier diagnosis of OC through general practice. The lecture will be conducted by researchers from the research group. Prior to investigation, all women who are referred to TVU will receive a consent form and a symptom-questionnaire. The symptom questionnaire focuses on the experienced symptoms during the past year. After finished investigation, the TVU test results will return electronically to the referring GP. The study period is one year. Data analysis will focus on the frequency of TVU use in general practice, action taken on test results and patient-reported symptoms prior to TVU. Perspectives The project will provide important new knowledge of the GPs referral practice when they suspect OC. For women presenting with vague and non-specific symptoms that may origin from OC, the introduction of TVU through general practice will provide new possibilities for evaluating the symptoms. Therefor introduction of TVU is a corner stone in the identification of more efficient ways to evaluate women at risk of developing OC. This study will contribute with important knowledge of how to improve the diagnostics of OC in the future and may reduce time to diagnosis.