title: Missed non-small cell lung cancer: radiographic findings of potentially resectable lesions evident only in retrospect.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess for change in the 1990s in the failure of detection at chest radiography of potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) lesions compared with experience in the previous decade.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1993 to 2001, an observational cohort was identified that consisted of 40 instances of NSCLC evident retrospectively at chest radiography but undetected by a radiologist at a time when the cancer was potentially resectable for cure. Sizes and locations of the tumors were assessed. Pearson chi(2) testing was performed to compare the sex distribution of lung cancer in the present series with population data for the sex distribution of lung cancer in the United States during the present study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five (62%) undetected NSCLCs were in men and 15 (38%) were in women, yielding a ratio not significantly different from that for the sex distribution of NSCLC according to national data (chi(2) = 0.22, P =.64). Median patient age was 62 years (range, 37-87 years). Median diameter of the missed cancers was 1.9 cm. Missed cancers were most commonly located in the upper lobes (right, 45%; left, 28%; total, 72%), especially in the apical and posterior segments/subsegments (60% of all the missed cancers). A clavicle obscured 22% of the missed cancers. Eighty-five percent of the missed cancers were in peripheral locations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Potentially resectable NSCLC lesions missed at chest radiography were characterized by predominantly peripheral (85%) and upper lobe (72%) locations and by apical and posterior segmental/subsegmental locations in an upper lobe (60%). Distribution by sex of the missed cancers was comparable to national data for NSCLC. The missed cancers had a median diameter of 1.9 cm.
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Priya Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: John H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Pavni
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Linda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Haramati
authors.forename: Gregory D N
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shiau
authors.forename: Yahya M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Berkmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors