RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detection of subsolid nodules (SSNs) on chest CT scans of outpatients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to correlate the imaging findings with epidemiological data. We hypothesized that (pre)malignant nonsolid nodules were underdiagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic because of an overlap of imaging findings between SSNs and COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: This was a retrospective study including all chest CT scans performed in adult outpatients (> 18 years of age) in September of 2019 (i.e., before the COVID-19 pandemic) and in September of 2020 (i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic). The images were reviewed by a thoracic radiologist, and epidemiological data were collected from patient-filled questionnaires and clinical referrals. Regression models were used in order to control for confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 650 and 760 chest CT scans were reviewed for the 2019 and 2020 samples, respectively. SSNs were found in 10.6% of the patients in the 2019 sample and in 7.9% of those in the 2020 sample (p = 0.10). Multiple SSNs were found in 23 and 11 of the patients in the 2019 and 2020 samples, respectively. Women constituted the majority of the study population. The mean age was 62.8 ± 14.8 years in the 2019 sample and 59.5 ± 15.1 years in the 2020 sample (p < 0.01). COVID-19 accounted for 24% of all referrals for CT examination in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer SSNs were detected on chest CT scans of outpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic, although the difference was not significant. In addition to COVID-19, the major difference between the 2019 and 2020 samples was the younger age in the 2020 sample. We can assume that fewer SSNs will be detected in a population with a higher proportion of COVID-19 suspicion or diagnosis.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples , Adulto , Humanos , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/diagnóstico por imagen , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/epidemiología , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/patología , Pandemias , COVID-19/diagnóstico por imagen , COVID-19/epidemiología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X/métodosRESUMEN
Resumen Introducción: Inspirado en el sistema BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting), el American College of Radiology (ACR) desarrolló el sistema Lung-RADS, con la intención de realizar informes estandarizados sobre los nódulos pulmonares detectados en el En Argentina y en muchos lugares del mundo, no se realiza el Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) debido a los altos costos; sin embargo, en las TC de tórax los hallazgos incidentales de nódulos pulmonares, es frecuente. Para evaluarlos, existen diversos sistemas basados en caracte rísticas que permiten establecer un seguimiento. Entre ellos, Guía Fleischner, British Thoracic Society Guidelines y Lung-RADS, siendo este último el único que posee una categorización numérica. En este artículo se estudia la utilidad del Lung-RADS, como método de diagnóstico y seguimiento en la clasificación de los nódulos pulmonares. Objetivo: Evaluación del nódulo pulmonar diagnosticado en la TC de Tórax, mediante el uso del Lung-RADS para determinar su valor clínico, comparando la correlación entre esta clasificación y la malignidad o benignidad en el examen histopatológico. Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo, estadístico, observacional, retrospectivo y prospectivo.Se estudiaron un total de 100 pacientes adultos, de ambos sexos, con diagnóstico de nódulo pulmonar, comprendidos entre Enero del año 2017 hasta Diciembre del 2019, de los cuales se excluyeron aquellos que no tuvieron un seguimiento. Estudio tomográfico realizado en tomógrafo de 128 hileras de detectores. Las variables estudiadas incluyeron: sexo y edad de los pacientes, tamaño y densidad del nódulo, malignidad de la lesión en el estudio anatomopatológico, categoría del Lung-RADS y terapéutica realizada y sugerida. Para el análisis descriptivo, se utilizaron frecuencias relativas (porcentajes) y absolutas (número de casos) para las variables cualitativas; y para las variables cuantitativas se utilizó media y desvío estándar, y rango de valores mínimomáximo. Para las pruebas de hipótesis, se realizaron pruebas de Chi cuadrado para las variables cualitativas. Para las variables cuantitativas se realizaron, en primer lugar, pruebas de Shapiro Wilks y de Kolmogorov. Resultados: En 100 pacientes en los que se aplicó el Lung-RADS para determinar seguimiento y tratamiento, se identificaron diferentes tipos de escenarios tanto en el comportamiento como en el seguimiento de los mismos, algunos con necesidad de recategorización y cambios en conducta diagnóstica y tratamiento. En cuanto al análisis estadístico se analizó la asociación entre la Clasificación Lung- RADS obtenida y la presencia o ausencia de malignidad en el examen anatomopatológico obteniendo resultados estadísticamente significativos (p-valor <0,0001) para esta asociación. Discusión: Actualmente se utiliza en sistema Lung-RADS y las guías de recomendaciones de los nódulos pulmonares de la Sociedad Fleischner. Ambas tienen criterios similares y se basan en la sospecha morfológica de malignidad, que incluye la densidad del nódulo (sólido, parcialmente sólido o en vidrio esmerilado), tamaño y, cuando está disponible, el crecimiento o evolución, que se aplican en distintos grupos de pacientes. La determinación del puntaje Lung-RADS ha demostrado su utilidad en este estudio, dada la correlación patológica del nódulo, con resultado estadísticamente aceptable y buena correlación con la decisión de seguimiento y tratamiento. Conclusión: La aplicación del sistema Lung-RADS en serie ha demostrado un buen manejo de seguimiento de los mismos posibilitando, en algunos casos, la realización de resecciones quirúrgicas y, en otros, una conducta expectante con cierta seguridad evitando, en muchas oportunidades, la adopción de tratamientos agresivos innecesarios.
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Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/epidemiología , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
Abstract Introduction: Inspired by the BI-RADS system (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System), the American College of Radiology (ACR) developed the Lung-RADS system, for the purpose of making standardized reports on lung nodules detected in lung cancer screening (LCS). In Argentina and in many other parts of the world the LCS is not performed due to high costs; however, in chest CT scans pulmonary nodules frequently appear as incidental findings. There are multiple systems to evaluate them based on a series of features that allow subsequent follow-up. Some of them are the Fleischner Guidelines, the British Thoracic Society Guidelines and the Lung-RADS system, the latter being the only one with numerical categorization. In this article we study the usefulness of the Lung- RADS, as a diagnostic, follow-up method for the classification of pulmonary nodules. Objective: Evaluation of the pulmonary nodule diagnosed on chest CT scan, using the Lung-RADS system to determine its clinical importance, comparing the correlation between this classification and the malignancy or benignancy in the histopathological examination. Material and Method: Descriptive, statistical, observational, retrospective and prospective study. A total of 100 adult patients, both men and women, with a diagnosis of pulmonary nodule were studied between January 2017 and December 2019. Patients without follow-up were excluded. Studies were performed with a 128-slice scanner. The variables under evaluation were: patients' sex and age, size and density of the nodule, malignancy of the lesion found in the anatomopathological study, Lung-RADS category and treatment performed and suggested. For the descriptive analysis we used relative frequencies (percentages) and absolute frequencies (number of cases) for qualitative variables; and mean and standard deviation as well as range of minimum-maximum values for the quantitative variables. For hypothesis tests, Chi-Square tests were performed for qualitative variables. For quantitative variables, Shapiro Wilks and Kolmogorov tests were performed. Results: In 100 patients in whom Lung-RADS was applied to determine follow-up and treatment, different types of scenarios could be identified regarding the approach and follow-up: some needed recategorization and changes in the diagnostic approach and treatment. As for the statistical analysis, we analyzed the association between the Lung-RADS classification obtained and the presence or absence of malignancy in the anatomopathological examination, and obtained statistically significant results (p-value <0.0001) for this association. Discussion: The Lung-RADS system and the Fleischner Society Guidelines on pulmonary nodules are used at present. Both have similar criteria and are based on the morphological suspicion of malignancy that includes the density of the nodule (solid, partially solid or ground-glass), the size and, when available, growth or evolution, which can be applied in different groups of patients. Determining the Lung-RADS score has proven its usefulness in this study, based on the pathological correlation of the nodule, with a statistically acceptable result and a good correlation with the treatment and follow-up decision. Conclusion: The application of the Lung-RADS system to this series of patients has shown a good management of patients' follow-up, with surgical resections in some cases and an expectant approach in others, providing certain security and mostly avoiding the use of unnecessary aggressive treatments.
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Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/epidemiología , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
Background: Pulmonary nodules are common, and surgery is the only alternative that allows a diagnostic and therapeutic management in a single procedure. Aim: To report the epidemiological, radiological, surgical and pathological features of excised pulmonary nodules. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of patients in whom a pulmonary nodule was excised between 2014 and 2018. Those with incomplete data or without a pathological study were excluded from analysis. Results: We retrieved 108 records and 8 had to be excluded, therefore 100 patients aged 34 to 82 years (57% females) were analyzed. Sixty percent had a history of smoking. Mean nodule size was 16 mm and the solid type was the most common (65%). Forty five percent of nodules had irregular margins and 55% were in the superior lobes. All patients operated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and 40% underwent a lobectomy. Malignant lesions were observed in 87% of biopsies and a pulmonary adenocarcinoma was found in pathology in 40%. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach of pulmonary nodules, using adapted international guidelines, accomplishes an appropriate management, decreasing unnecessary surgical interventions.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Carcinoma/patología , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/patología , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/patología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Carcinoma/cirugía , Carcinoma/epidemiología , Chile/epidemiología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Distribución por Sexo , Cirugía Torácica Asistida por Video/métodos , Carga Tumoral , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/cirugía , Nódulos Pulmonares Múltiples/epidemiología , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/cirugía , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/epidemiología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/cirugía , Neoplasias Pulmonares/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary nodules are common, and surgery is the only alternative that allows a diagnostic and therapeutic management in a single procedure. AIM: To report the epidemiological, radiological, surgical and pathological features of excised pulmonary nodules. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of medical records of patients in whom a pulmonary nodule was excised between 2014 and 2018. Those with incomplete data or without a pathological study were excluded from analysis. RESULTS: We retrieved 108 records and 8 had to be excluded, therefore 100 patients aged 34 to 82 years (57% females) were analyzed. Sixty percent had a history of smoking. Mean nodule size was 16 mm and the solid type was the most common (65%). Forty five percent of nodules had irregular margins and 55% were in the superior lobes. All patients operated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and 40% underwent a lobectomy. Malignant lesions were observed in 87% of biopsies and a pulmonary adenocarcinoma was found in pathology in 40%. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary approach of pulmonary nodules, using adapted international guidelines, accomplishes an appropriate management, decreasing unnecessary surgical interventions.