ANALYSIS OF FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DELAYED PRESENTATION AMONG PATIENTS WITH NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA AT PROVINCIAL-LEVEL HOSPITALS
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Abstract
This cross-sectional descriptive study combined with secondary analysis was conducted on 2,118 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma at three provincial hospitals, together with a diagnostic practice survey at five hospitals. The results showed that 89.5% of patients presented late, more than six months after symptom onset; 63.9% were diagnosed at stage III–IV; and 51.6% had unilateral tinnitus. Provincial-level hospitals had lower rates of routine MRI use, double reading, and multidisciplinary team consultation than central-level hospitals, at 20.0% versus 74.3%, 20.0% versus 51.4%, and 20.0% versus 60.0%, respectively. Delayed presentation was associated with nonspecific initial symptoms, insufficient recognition of warning signs, and limitations in diagnostic facilities and procedures at provincial-level hospitals. Initial screening should be improved in adults with persistent unilateral tinnitus, hearing loss, nasal obstruction, recurrent epistaxis, headache, or cervical lymphadenopathy.
Keywords
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, delayed presentation, provincial-level hospitals, early detection, MRI
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References
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