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Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Clin Oncol. Aug 10, 2014; 5(3): 465-477
Published online Aug 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i3.465
Table 3 Time intervals for breast cancer care-findings from the literature
Country (region)YearnTotal interval
Patient interval
Provider/system intervals
DefinitionMedian/mean1> 3 mo(%)Median/mean1> 3 mo(%)ReportedintervalDefinitionMedian/mean1> 3 mo(%)
High-income countries
Canada (Quebec)[105]1992-199829606-----Treatment1st diagnostic study to surgery.42 d17.1
Canada[106]19964465-----DiagnosisAbnormal screening to diagnosis31 d-
France[30]200314941st abnormal screening to treatment start34 d---DiagnosisAbnormal screening to diagnosis7 d-
TreatmentDiagnosis to treatment start27 d-
Germany (Saarland)[11,107,108]1996-1998380Symptom discovery or abnormal screening to diagnosis-26.116 d17.4Provider1st consultation to treatment start15 d11.0
Italy (Campania)[56]1998-1999644Symptom discovery to surgery-35-20-1st medical consultation to hospital admission-11
Italy (Campania and Apulia)[109]2004-2006959-----Diagnosis1st consultation to diagnosis-60
Nether-lands[110]1996-20021503-----DiagnosisScreening to diagnosis-6.5
North Ireland[91]2006759-----TreatmentDiagnosis to treatment start15 d-
Scotland[111]2005-20071250---7 d-Referral1st consultation to referral1 d-
-SpecialistReferral by GP to 1st consultation by specialist18 d-
Spain (Catalonia)[112]2001-2002266-----TreatmentDiagnosis to treatment start35 d-
United Kingdom[113]1999-200025627Symptom discovery to diagnosis30 d-9 d--GP referral to diagnosis11 d-
United States[31]1991-19951659Abnormal screening to treatment start48 d22.9--Diagnosis1st abnormal screening to diagnosis32 d-
TreatmentDiagnosis to treatment start.10 d-
United States[54]1995-2005246957-----TreatmentDiagnosis to treatment start23 d-
United States (Califor-nia)[114]2003-2005921 low income womenSymptom discovery to biopsy39------
United States (North Carolina)[115]2000-20021786-----TreatmentDiagnosis to treatment start22 d-
Middle-income countries:
Brazil (Brasilia)[25]2010250Symptom discovery to treatment7.5 mo88.8-29.9Provider1st consultation to treatment start-77.6
Brazil (Rio)[24]2004104Symptom discovery to diagnosis8 mo-1 mo-Diagnosis1st consultation to diagnosis6.5 mo80
Bulgaria[23]2011448Symptom discovery to treatment3.9 mo1-1.2 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start3.1 mo1-
Colombia[95,116]2006-2007852----20.3Provider1st consultation to treatment start4.5 mo31
Croatia[23]2011167Symptom discovery to treatment3.4 mo1-1.2 mo1Provider1st consultation to treatment start2.6 mo1-
Egypt[29]2010163---2.7 mo--1st consultation to hospital arrival18 d-
Ethiopia[117]200869---18 mo1-----
Haiti[118]201290---1 wk42%----
Hungary[23]2011167Symptom discovery to treatment4.0 mo1-24 d1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start3.6 mo1-
India[23]2011207Symptom discovery to treatment7.4 mo1-1.5 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start6.2 mo1-
Iran[28]2000-2001200---3 mo42.5----
Latvia[23]2011111Symptom discovery to treatment4.4 mo1-1.5 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start3.3 mo1-
Libya[22]2008-2009200Symptom discovery to diagnosis-70.0-54.5----
Lithuania[23]2011368Symptom discovery to treatment3.0 mo1-1.2 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start2.1 mo1-
Malaysia[26]2005-2007328Symptom discovery to diagnosis5.5 mo72.62 mo43.3----
Mexico[34]200832Symptom discovery to treatment start7.5 mo10 dDiagnosis1st consultation to diagnosis2.8 mo
Mexico[27]2010-2011384Abnormal mammogram or symptom discovery to treatment start7.8 mo90.011 d20.6Provider1st consultation to treatment start4.7 mo73.7
Nigeria[103]2009-2010201----81----
Poland[23]2011557Symptom discovery to treatment2.9 mo1-25 d1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start2.4 mo1-
Romania[23]2011271Symptom discovery to treatment6.4 mo1-1.5 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start7.4 mo1-
Russia[23]2011718Symptom discovery to treatment3.9 mo1-1.2 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start3.1 mo1-
Slovakia[23]2011154Symptom discovery to treatment3.3 mo1-1.0 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start2.7 mo1-
Serbia[23]2011663Symptom discovery to treatment3.2 mo1-1.1 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start2.3 mo1-
Thailand[35]1994-199694---1 mo26.6Provider1st medical consultation to hospital admission1 mo24.4
Thailand[36]2009109---12 d17.0Provider1st consultation to treatment start21 d42.0
Turkey[23]2011694Symptom discovery to treatment3.4 mo1-1.2 mo1-Provider1st consultation to treatment start2.6 mo1-