A clinical model to estimate the pretest probability of lung cancer in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules.
BACKGROUND
Estimating the clinical probability of malignancy in patients with a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) can facilitate the selection and interpretation of subsequent diagnostic tests.


METHODS
We used multiple logistic regression analysis to identify independent clinical predictors of malignancy and to develop a parsimonious clinical prediction model to estimate the pretest probability of malignancy in a geographically diverse sample of 375 veterans with SPNs. We used data from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative databases and a recently completed VA Cooperative Study that evaluated the accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) scans for the diagnosis of SPNs.


RESULTS
The mean (+/- SD) age of subjects in the sample was 65.9 +/- 10.7 years. The prevalence of malignant SPNs was 54%. Most participants were either current smokers (n = 177) or former smokers (n = 177). Independent predictors of malignant SPNs included a positive smoking history (odds ratio [OR], 7.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6 to 23.6), older age (OR, 2.2 per 10-year increment; 95% CI, 1.7 to 2.8), larger nodule diameter (OR, 1.1 per 1-mm increment; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.2), and time since quitting smoking (OR, 0.6 per 10-year increment; 95% CI, 0.5 to 0.7). Model accuracy was very good (area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.84), and there was excellent agreement between the predicted probability and the observed frequency of malignant SPNs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our prediction rule can be used to estimate the pretest probability of malignancy in patients with SPNs, and thereby facilitate clinical decision making when selecting and interpreting the results of diagnostic tests such as PET imaging.
Gould
Michael K
MK
Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave (111P), Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. gould@stanford.edu
Ananth
Lakshmi
L
Barnett
Paul G
PG
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014728:Veterans