ABSTRACT
Introduction: With the increasing detection of incidental pulmonary nodules (IPNs), there is a clinical need for a dedicated IPN service to ensure that growing PNs are managed in a timely manner. Pre COVID-19, our centre ran a virtual nodule service, delivered on an ad-hoc basis by the lung cancer physicians. We hypothesised that efficiency of the service would improve with a dedicated nodule team. We were awarded a pump priming grant by the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance to implement a nodule navigator run service. We report the initial outcomes of this project here. Objective(s): To evaluate the PN navigator service. Method(s): Retrospective data pre-service development was collected from patients presenting to the PN service between April and June 2022. The service was established in October 2022 and data from October and November 2022 collected. Student t-test was used to compare means. [Table presented] Results: 107 patients were included pre-service and 92 patients in the post-service development cohorts. Data for time to CT report and patient contact are summarised in Table 1. There was no reduction in mean time from CT scan date to CT report (Table 1;31vs 27;p=0.143) but a reduction was seen between CT report and patient contact (Table 1, 45 vs 20;p<0.001). Conclusion(s): This small cohort study shows an improvement in the time between CT scan and patient contact following the introduction of a dedicated PN service. This may reduce delays in the diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer. Whilst there was no significant difference between the CT scan date and CT report, these data highlight an area in the pathway that can improve. Further aims of the project are to collect patient satisfaction and IPN discharge. Disclosure: No significant relationships.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V.