Low-Dose CT Monitoring of Lung Nodules Could Spare Unnecessary Surgery

A new study shows that non-solid lung nodules can be safely monitored by performing annual low-dose Computed Tomography (CT) screening.

Non-solid nodules often show up on chest CT scans, and may result in additional imaging tests or surgery. Annual low-dose CT screening could spare patients unnecessary interventions and imaging.

The study was performed by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital (ISMMS; New York, NY, USA) and included 57,496 participants from the International Early Lung Cancer Program (I-ELCAP). The patients received one baseline, and repeat screenings every subsequent year, during which time the researchers evaluated any non-solid nodules found.

The results of the research suggest that non-solid nodules can be safely followed using annual low-dose CT screening, and can help clinicians assess a potential transition to a part-solid nodule.

Study coauthor Claudia I. Henschke, PhD, MD, Icahn School of Medicine, said, "Nonsolid nodules could be due to inflammation, infection or fibrosis, but could also be cancerous or a precursor of cancer. For screening, we have to define which nodules need further workup and how quickly we have to do that workup. The results show that if we see a nonsolid lung nodule of any size, we can tell people to come back in one year for another CT. These findings are important for reducing unnecessary CT scans and possible biopsies or surgery in programs of CT screening for lung cancer."

The study was published online, in the journal Radiology on July 23, 2015.

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