Table 3

Factors related to cancer being diagnosed or not, or suspected or not (n = 6321)a

All patients with warning sign(s) of cancerCancer possible, needs follow-upCancer not likelyMissing registration
nn, cancerbPPV% of all cancersn (%)n, cancerb (%)n (%)n, cancerb (%)n (%)n, cancerb (%)
Previous cancer610386.235.8216 (35.4)19 (50.0)127 (20.8)3 (7.9)267 (43.8)16 (42.1)
Comorbidity651213.219.8170 (26.1)10 (47.6)346 (53.1)6 (28.6)135 (20.7)5 (23.8)
First consultation2847361.334.0747 (26.2)22 (61.1)1840 (64.6)11 (30.6)260 (9.1)3 (8.3)
Not first consultation2553602.456.6640 (25.1)33 (55.0)1458 (57.7)12 (20.0)455 (17.8)15 (25.0)
Duration of symptoms, weeks
  0–153581.57.5113 (21.1)4 (50.0)366 (68.4)3 (37.5)55 (10.3)1 (12.5)
  2–71283191.517.9359 (28.0)16 (84.2)795 (62.0)3 (15.8)129 (10.1)0 (0)
  8–231320251.923.6426 (32.3)18 (72.0)775 (58.7)4 (16.0)116 (8.8)3 (12.0)
  24–51491102.09.4140 (28.5)6 (60.0)288 (58.7)2 (20.0)61 (12.4)2 (20.0)
  ≥52785131.712.3148 (18.9)5 (38.5)524 (66.8)2 (15.4)107 (13.6)6 (46.2)
Supplementary actions
  Laboratory tests2719521.949.1838 (30.8)33 (63.5)1569 (57.7)12 (23.1)312 (11.5)7 (13.5)
  Imaging1140332.931.1461 (40.4)20 (60.6)561 (49.2)7 (21.2)118 (10.4)6 (18.2)
  Referrals1342413.138.7555 (41.4)30 (73.2)614 (45.8)4 (9.8)173 (12.9)7 (17.1)
  0 action2370241.022.6249 (10.5)5 (20.8)1644 (69.4)8 (33.3)466 (19.7)11 (45.8)
  1 action2847421.539.6758 (26.6)25 (59.5)1729 (60.7)10 (23.8)353 (12.4)7 (16.7)
  2 actions958363.834.0428 (44.7)26 (72.2)428 (44.7)5 (13.9)97 (10.1)5 (13.9)
  3 actions14642.73.8480 (54.8)2 (50.0)53 (36.3)1 (25.0)12 (8.2)1 (25.0)
  • a Patients presenting with warning signs of cancer, of whom 106 got cancer.

  • b Number of patients with subsequent cancer. PPV = positive predictive value in relation to cancer.