Introduction
Scottish Government guidelines state that 95% of patients diagnosed
with cancer should begin treatment within 31 days of diagnosis and 95%
of those referred with a suspicion of cancer should begin treatment
within 62 days of referral (1). However, these targets currently apply
to 10 major cancer groups, which excludes thyroid cancer (1). The
biology of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is favourable in
comparison to most malignancies. However, the oncological and
psychological impact of potential treatment delays in DTC is not clear.
The aim of this study was to assess times from referral to diagnosis and
treatment, with a focus on factors that influence times within our
cancer network.