title: Prediction of Pulmonary Metastasis in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients with Indeterminate Pulmonary Nodules.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) are of uncertain significance in patients with renal cell carcinoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine predictors of IPN progression to pulmonary metastasis and develop a tool for individualized risk stratification of patients who present with IPN on preoperative chest imaging in the setting of localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed all patients who had radical nephrectomy with no evidence of distant metastases at a single institution from 2005-2009 who had ≥1 IPN on chest computed tomography that measured <2 cm. All chest computed tomographies were rereviewed by a radiologist who was blinded to outcomes, to independently determine number, size, and location of nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary objective of the study was to develop a prognostic model to predict pulmonary metastases among radical nephrectomy patients who present with IPN based on readily available preoperative imaging and postoperative pathological criteria. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess the predictive factors for development of pulmonary metastasis. We developed a nomogram that predicted the 3-yr and 5-yr lung metastasis-free survival (LMFS), with assessment of discrimination and internal validation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among 251 patients with IPN who underwent nephrectomy, 72 (29%) developed pulmonary metastases. Median follow-up for the cohort was 36.6 mo. Three-yr and 5-yr probability of LMFS for the overall cohort was 71% (95% confidence interval 65-77%) and 65% (95% confidence interval 57-72%), respectively. The nomogram developed included number and size of IPN along with postoperative pathological variables, and showed calibration with a concordance index (c-index) of 0.81 and a bootstrap corrected c-index of 0.78. Limitations include retrospective study with no external validation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We developed a nomogram to predict the individualized risk LMFS for patients who underwent nephrectomy for localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed outcomes among kidney cancer patients who presented with small lung nodules and developed a clinical tool to predict risk of developing lung metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mehrad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adibi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kenney
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Arun Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Leonardo D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Borregales
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Graciela M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Nogueras-González
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: CGWood@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055613:Multiple Pulmonary Nodules / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D009392:Nephrectomy; D049451:Nomograms; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Prognosis; Pulmonary nodules; Renal cell carcinoma