Lung cancer screening in Canada: 2021/2022
About this section
A rapid diagnosis initiative for lung cancer is defined as any initiative implemented to shorten the average wait time from clinical suspicion of lung cancer to diagnosis. Patients typically enter rapid diagnosis initiatives at the time of referral for diagnostic imaging and exit at the date of diagnosis. This section describes rapid diagnosis initiatives for lung cancer.
Rapid diagnosis initiatives for lung cancer
Seven provinces currently have a rapid diagnosis initiative implemented, while an initiative is in development in PE.
Rapid diagnosis initiatives for lung cancer in Canada
| Province/Territory | Initiative name | Location of initiative |
|---|---|---|
| YT | No rapid diagnosis initiative | |
| NT | No rapid diagnosis initiative | |
| NU | No rapid diagnosis initiative | |
| BC | BC Cancer Interventional Pulmonology (started 2014) LEAP (started 2019) |
Cancer centre, Hospital |
| AB | Alberta Thoracic Oncology Program | Cancer centre |
| SK | No rapid diagnosis initiative | |
| MB | Cancer Patient Journey Initiative (Lung Cancer Pathway) | |
| ON | Lung diagnostic assessment | Hospital (level 1 thoracic centres) |
| QC | Rapid lung investigation window | Hospital |
| NB | No rapid diagnosis initiative | |
| NS | Thoracic Malignancy Referral Management Pilot | Hospital (tertiary/quaternary) |
| PE | In development | |
| NL | Thoracic Triage Panel of Eastern Health |
Criteria for entering rapid diagnosis pathway
| P/T | Criteria for entering rapid diagnosis pathway | Point of entry into rapid diagnosis initiative | Point of exit out of rapid diagnosis initiative |
|---|---|---|---|
| YT | |||
| NT | |||
| NU | |||
| BC | · Date of receipt of referral | · Date of diagnosis or rule out of cancer and treatment referral | |
| AB | · Date of receipt of referral | · Point of exit would be date of initial treatment decision | |
| SK | |||
| MB | · Clinical suspicion (primary care orders CT) | · First surgery, chemotherapy or RT | |
| ON | · In the OLSP*, referral to lung diagnostic assessment is facilitated directly by the screening program via the screening navigator as per the reporting radiologist’s recommendation – the individual does not need to be referred back to primary care for follow-up · Referral is based on Lung-RADS® score · Screening participants with a Lung-RADS® score of 4B or 4X are referred for lung diagnostic assessment |
· Date of receipt of referral for patients with abnormal imaging | · Date of diagnosis or rule out of cancer |
| QC | · Detection of a pulmonary nodule greater than or equal to 8mm | · Detection of a pulmonary nodule greater than or equal to 8mm | · Diagnosis established and investigation completed |
| NB | |||
| NS | · Date of receipt of referral by thoracic surgeon | · Date of decision regarding the initial treatment recommendation | |
| PE | |||
| NL | · Date of receipt of referral to triage panel for patients with diagnostic imaging report suggesting malignancy | · Date of completion of diagnostic investigations |
ON: *Ontario Lung Screening Program