Radiology-led lung escalation pathway: a streamlined innovative service expediting the diagnosis of lung cancer

- To try to facilitate earlier diagnosis, there is national interest in direct access pathways from primary to secondary care.
- In 2015 the Department of Health through, its ACE programme funded six pilot projects in UK NHS trusts.
- Our pathway, the Lung Cancer Escalation Pathway, which began in 2014, predates the ACE initiatives.
- 48% of patients on the LCEP are diagnosed as with a primary lung cancer, with 8% having another intrathoracic malignancy.