Tuberc Respir Dis.
2004 Feb;56(2):151-158. 10.4046/trd.2004.56.2.151.
Incidence of Malignancy and Its Predictive Factors in Intrapulmonary Nodules Associated with cT1-2N0M0 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Affiliations
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- 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Lung Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National Univ
- KMID: 2132468
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2004.56.2.151
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: When a non small cell lung caner patient at the cT1-2N0M0 stage is diagnosed with intrapulmonary nodule(s), the treatment plan and prognosis of the patient largely depend on whether the nodule is benign or malignant. In most cases, however, it is hard to conduct a biopsy on such a nodule, due to its small size. Furthermore, the predictive factors that may imply benignancy or malignancy of the nodules remain unknown. As such, the purpose of our study was to validate the incidence of malignant nodules in such cases, and find if there are any predictive factors.
METHODS
Chest computed tomography(CT) scans and the medical records of 444 patients, who had undergone non small cell lung cancer surgery, between July, 2001 and September, 2003, at Seoul National University Hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. Among cT1-2N0M0 non small cell lung cancer patients, with intrapulmonary nodule(s), only those cases where a CT scan or a biopsy of the nodules had been conducted, and had been followed up at intervals of more than 6 months were included. However, patients who had received chemotherapy or radiation therapy, pre- or post-operatively, or with calcified nodules, were excluded.
RESULTS
Our study group consisted of 39 patients, divided into two groups. The first group, 33 patients, had benign nodules, and the second group, 6 patients, had malignant nodules. The two groups were compared with regard to gender, age, cell type, pathologic stage, shape, size, location and number of nodules and presence of calcification around the nodules. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
The intrapulmonary nodules in non small cell lung cancer patients at the cT1-2N0M0 stage were mostly benign. Therefore, surgical treatment for such patients can be considered. Moreover, without predictive factors, pathological confirmation of the diagnosed nodules should be sought in all patients.
