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Objectives. There have been advances in the identification and understanding of molecular subsets of lung cancer, defined by specific oncogenic aberrations. A number of actionable genetic alterations have been identified, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. We aimed to establish the reasons why patients were not undergoing EGFR mutation testing at the time of histological diagnosis. Methods. The records of 70 patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung managed through a single multidisciplinary team at a single institution were reviewed. Data were collected on method of tumour sample collection, whether this was sent for EGFR testing, and the result. Results. Seventy patients were identified. In 21/25 (84%) cases, cytological sampling was sufficient for EGFR mutation analysis, compared with 40/45 (89%) cases with histological sampling. EGFR mutation testing was not carried out in 22/70 (31.4%) patients. There was insufficient tumour sample for EGFR testing in 9/22 (40.9%) patients. Other reasons for not testing included poor patient fitness and problems in the diagnostic pathway. Conclusions. In this series, cytological tumour sampling was not the predominant reason why cancers failed to have EGFR mutation status established.

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A 67-year-old female patient presented with weight loss, diarrhoea and thrombocytopaenia of unknown aetiology. A computerised tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a mass in the head of the pancreas with liver metastases. A liver biopsy demonstrated a well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. She was commenced on a somatostatin analogue. Three months later she presented with spontaneous bleeding. Blood test demonstrated results consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A restaging CT scan showed evidence of disease progression. The DIC was felt to be due to the underlying progressive malignancy. Having considered the potential risks associated with cytotoxic therapy in the context of a consumptive coagulopathy, the patient was commenced on weekly Carboplatin. The patient's blood counts improved rapidly, and her bruising and bleeding resolved. Following a few weeks of stable blood results and clinical stability, her cytotoxic treatment was changed to a combination of Carboplatin and Etoposide, and to date she remains well on treatment.