Missed opportunities for diagnosing brain tumours in primary care: a qualitative study of patient experiences.

Walter FM, Penfold C, Joannides A, et al. Br J Gen Pract. 2019 Mar 11; [Epub ahead of print].

This qualitative study of 39 patients with a recent diagnosis of brain tumor found that many had multiple primary care visits prior to diagnosis, raising concern for missed opportunities for diagnosis. Patients reported more prompt diagnosis when their primary care physician elicited a more comprehensive history including subtle cognitive changes. The authors conclude that better public awareness of symptoms could prompt more timely diagnosis of brain tumors.

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