urgent referral to a chest physician
Last reviewed 07/2022
Any of the following should be referred for urgent specialist review (2 week referral):
- have chest X-ray findings that suggest lung cancer (1)
- unexplained haemoptysis in patients over 40 years of age (1)
NICE state that if a chest X-ray or chest computed tomography (CT) scan suggests lung cancer (including pleural effusion and slowly resolving consolidation), patients should be offered an urgent referral to a member of the lung cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT), usually a chest physician (2).
Refer people using a suspected cancer pathway referral (for an appointment within 2 weeks) for mesothelioma if they have chest X-ray findings that suggest mesothelioma (1).
Consider emergency/immediate referral for patients with (2,3):
- signs of superior vena caval obstruction (swelling of the face/neck with fixed elevation of jugular venous pressure)
- stridor
Reference: