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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

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February 1, 2026
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December 31, 2024

Copyright (c) 2024 Yasser Mohammed Al Dosari, Aloush Assaf Rashid Al-Otaibi, Nasser Saif Alotaibi, Mujahid Ahmed Alhazmi, Safer Atif Alqahtani, Sultan Abdulrahman Obied Alnazawa, Fouad Zaid Aloufi, Hani Ahmed Abdulrahman Almasabi, Abdullah Abid Alotaibi, Huda Ahmad Haj Atti, Mariam Siddig Mohammad Kholi, Tahani Saleh Belal Alzhrani

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A Narrative Review: Mapping an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Pathway for the Early Detection and Management of Incidentalomas in Primary Care

https://doi.org/10.64483/202412618
Yasser Mohammed Al Dosari
Wadi Al-Dawasir General Hospital, Saudi Arabia
Aloush Assaf Rashid Al-Otaibi
Al-Quwayiyah Hospital – Al-Quwayiyah, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Nasser Saif Alotaibi
Al-Quwayiyah Hospital – Al-Quwayiyah, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Mujahid Ahmed Alhazmi
Khybar General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Safer Atif Alqahtani
Imam Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Hospital – Riyadh, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Sultan Abdulrahman Obied Alnazawa
Ohud Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Fouad Zaid Aloufi
Ohud Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Hani Ahmed Abdulrahman Almasabi
Al-Khubaib Primary Health Care Center – Buraidah, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Abid Alotaibi
Afif Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Huda Ahmad Haj Atti
Erada Hospital for Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Mariam Siddig Mohammad Kholi
Erada Hospital for Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Tahani Saleh Belal Alzhrani
Al-Aradh Primary Health Care Center, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author(s) : Yasser Mohammed Al Dosari

yaaldosari@moh.gov.sa

Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

Abstract

Background: The proliferation of advanced diagnostic imaging has led to a significant increase in incidental findings, or incidentalomas. These unexpected discoveries, often in asymptomatic patients, present a complex clinical dilemma, creating potential patient anxiety, driving further potentially unnecessary investigations, and straining healthcare resources. Current management is frequently fragmented, lacking standardized protocols that actively integrate the core primary care team members. Aim: This narrative review aims to synthesize existing evidence to propose a standardized, patient-centric, multidisciplinary workflow for managing incidentalomas from detection to resolution, explicitly defining the roles of the General Practitioner (GP), Radiologist, Nurse, Pharmacist, and Health Assistant. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases for English-language articles published between 2010 and 2024. Keywords included "incidentaloma," "incidental finding," "multidisciplinary," "primary care," "patient navigation," and profession-specific terms. Results: The review identifies critical gaps in communication, patient support, and care coordination. It maps a novel five-pillar pathway: 1) Standardized Radiological Reporting & Risk Stratification, 2) GP-mediated Patient Counseling & Shared Decision-Making, 3) Nurse-led Coordination & Psychological Support, 4) Pharmacist-led Medication Safety Review, and 5) Health Assistant-driven Logistics Management. Two conceptual tables summarize role-specific interventions and a proposed staging protocol. Conclusion: An integrated pathway that leverages the complementary skills of all five primary care professions can significantly reduce patient anxiety, minimize unnecessary interventions, improve adherence to follow-up, and optimize resource utilization. Implementing such a model requires systemic changes in communication infrastructure, interprofessional education, and clinical governance.

Keywords

Incidentaloma, Multidisciplinary Care, Patient Navigation, Primary Health Care, Radiology.
Al Dosari, Y. M., Al-Otaibi, A. A. R., Alotaibi, N. S., Alhazmi, M. A., Alqahtani, S. A., Alnazawa, S. A. O., … Alzhrani, T. S. B. (2024). A Narrative Review: Mapping an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Pathway for the Early Detection and Management of Incidentalomas in Primary Care. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 1(2), 2206–2213. https://doi.org/10.64483/202412618
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