Talk Description
Institution: Fiona Stanley Hospital - WA, Australia
Aims
Rapid Access Neck Lump Clinics (RANLCs) are designed to streamline the assessment, diagnosis and management of head and neck lumps, facilitating earlier cancer detection and treatment initiation. While established in several international centres, such clinics remains relatively uncommon in the Australian public health system. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary RANLC on diagnostic efficiency, waiting times and clinical outcomes over a five-year period.
Methodology
A consultant-led RANLC was established in a tertiary public hospital, incorporating a head and neck surgeon, radiologist and pathologist to enable comprehensive same-day evaluation. Data were collected prospectively for all patients attending the clinic between February 2018 and February 2023. Key performance metrics included time from referral to specialist review, time to multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion, and time to treatment commencement. Diagnostic yield and malignancy rates were also analysed.
Results
A total of 437 consecutive patients were reviewed. The mean time from referral to specialist assessment was 16.1 ± 9.5 days. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed in 61% of patients, identifying malignancy in 38.6%. The median time from specialist assessment to MDT discussion was 5 days, and the mean interval from clinic review to initiation of treatment was 39.3 days. These findings reflect significant streamlining of the diagnostic pathway and coordination of multidisciplinary care.
Conclusions
The introduction of a multidisciplinary rapid access neck lump clinic significantly reduced waiting times for diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer. This model demonstrates a feasible and effective approach to improving timely access to care within the Australian public health system, aligning with international best practice.
Presenters
Authors
Authors
Dr Chaithanya Jeganathan - , Dr Caitlin Waters - , Ms Stephanie Hollit - , Dr Robert Wormald -
