Clinical characteristics of a second small nodule(s) associated with cT1-2N0M0 non-small-cell lung cancer.
When a patient with cT(1-2)N(0)M(0) stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a second small nodule(s), the treatment plan and prognosis depend largely on whether the nodule is benign or malignant. However, the incidence of malignancy of nodules associated with N(0) and M(0) NSCLC is unknown. Furthermore, predictive factors of malignancy have not been defined. Thus, we evaluated the nature of nodules that were less than 15 mm in diameter associated with stage T(1-2)N(0)M(0), and tried to identify clinical and radiologic factors predictive of malignancy. The study population consisted of 39 patients with T(1-2)N(0)M(0) NSCLC and a second nodule(s) less than 1.5 cm and who had received curative resection. Medical records and radiologic findings, including CT scans of the chest, were retrospectively reviewed. Nodules were finally diagnosed as benign in 85% and malignant in 15%. No significant differences in terms of gender, age, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, cell type, pathologic stages, shape, size, location and number of nodules, or the presence of calcification around nodules was observed between benign and malignant groups. We suggest that if primary NSCLC is resectable, an effort should be made to confirm the pathologic diagnosis of nodules. If histologic findings in nodules are not available, surgical resection should be actively considered, especially when nodules < 1.5 cm are associated with N(0) or M(0) NSCLCs.
Yoon
Ho Il
HI
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Geonggi-do, Seongnam-si, 463-707, Republic of Korea. dextro@snubh.org
Yim
Jae-Jun
JJ
Lee
Choon-Taek
CT
Kim
Young Whan
YW
Han
Sung Koo
SK
Shim
Young-Soo
YS
Kim
Young Tae
YT
Sung
Sook Whan
SW
Kim
Joo Hyun
JH
Yoo
Chul-Gyu
CG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed