Cancer: lung cancer stage at diagnosis
Indicator
The proportion of lung cancer cases for which a stage at diagnosis is recorded.
Indicator type
Network / system level indicator.
The indicator would be appropriate to understand and report on the performance of networks or systems of providers.
This document does not represent formal NICE guidance. For a full list of NICE indicators, see our menu of indicators.
To find out how to use indicators and how we develop them, see our NICE indicator process guide.
Rationale
Lung cancer has 1 of the lowest survival outcomes of any cancer. More than two-thirds of people are diagnosed at a late stage when curative treatment is not possible. Earlier diagnosis and referral to specialist teams should improve survival rates. This indicator therefore aims to inform actions to increase the number of cases of lung cancer detected at an earlier stage.
Source guidance
Lung cancer: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG122 (2019, updated 2014), section 1.3
Specification
Numerator: Number of cases in the denominator with a valid stage at diagnosis recorded, as defined by UKIACR registration rules.
Denominator: The number of new cases of lung cancer.
Calculation: Numerator divided by the denominator, multiplied by 100.
Exclusions: None.
Data source: National Lung Cancer Audit.
Minimum population: The indicator would be appropriate to assess the performance of networks or systems of providers.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-5868-9