Do we recognize oral cancer? Primary professional delay in diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives The occurrence and causes of primary professional delay in diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were examined. Materials and methods Factors related to initial diagnosis or malignancy suspicion were evaluated in patients with primary OSCC. The outcome variable was primary professional delay for missed suspicion of malignancy or wrong diagnosis or delayed referral. The primary predictor variable was active care-seeking. Secondary predictor variables were patients' symptoms and clinical findings. Results Primary professional delay was found in 9.5% of the 528 patients included. Professional delay was 6.6 times more likely to occur in patients actively seeking care than in those whose tumor was an incidental finding (95% CI 1.58-27.58, p = 0.010). Pain (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.07-3.87, p = 0.031), ulceration (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.29-4.19, p = 0.005), denture fit problem (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.25-7.56, p = 0.014), and unhealed tooth extraction socket (OR = 29.6, 95% CI 8.89-98.71, p < 0.001) were significant predictors for primary professional delay. Conclusions OSCC patients seek care actively. Primary professional delay affects the care of every tenth OSCC patient. Clinical relevance The role of health care professionals is essential for early OSCC diagnosis, especially in urgent care. Clinicians' knowledge of the typical symptoms and findings of OSCC should be improved.