[High prevalence of advanced cancer disease in patients with serious non-specific symtoms. Experience of a diagnostic pathway in a defined population area in Sweden]

The Swedish fast-track diagnostic pathway was applied during 2017 for 146 patients with serious non-specific symptoms including weight loss, fatigue and anemia. Within five days all patients had a physical examination and a decision was made of radiologic investigations. The waiting time was short for e.g. CT-scan of the abdomen and thorax. A diagnosis of a malignant condition was made in 38 patients (26%) with a median age of 75 (48-91) years. There were 24 men and 14 women. Most common diagnoses were lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Hematologic malignancy was diagnosed in 8 patients. Stage IV disease occurred in 17 of the patients with carcinoma (57%). About 60 benign main diagnoses were made in 108 patients without malignant disease. Two of them have developed cancer during 2018 (breast cancer, pancreatic cancer).