Abstract
Introduction
A GP may only encounter one sarcoma in their professional career. Early diagnosis and treatment will improve the outcomes of this rare and malignant disease. Guidelines designed to lead to earlier diagnosis of the most common cancers were introduced by NICE in 2000 and were updated in 2005. These advise and assist in the early referral of potential bone and soft tissue sarcoma. Prior to 2000 only ~10% of GP referrals were proven to be malignant.
Methods
In a referral region of ∼3m, we reviewed the referral patterns of suspected sarcoma by General Practitioners since 2005 in an effort to determine whether the published NICE guidelines had influenced an improvement in the diagnosis and management of malignant disease.
Results
33.3% of all referrals made by General Practitioners using the Thames Valley Cancer Network referral proforma were malignant.
Discussion
NICE sarcoma guidelines for GPs have been effective in improving the diagnosis of malignant disease with suspected sarcoma albeit as a triage for malignancy rather than specifically for sarcoma.
