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The relationship of cancer characteristics and patient outcome with time to lung cancer diagnosis after an abnormal screening CT

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Abstract

Purpose

The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated a reduction in lung cancer and all-cause mortality with low-dose CT (LDCT) screening. The aim of our study was to examine the time to diagnosis (TTD) of lung cancer in the LDCT arm of the NLST and assess its relationship with cancer characteristics and survival.

Methods

The subjects (N = 462) with a positive baseline screen and subsequent lung cancer diagnosis within 3 years were evaluated by data and image review to confirm the baseline abnormality. The cases were analysed for the relationship between TTD and imaging features, cancer type, stage and survival for 7 years from baseline screen.

Results

Cancer was judged to be present at baseline in 397/462 cases. The factors that showed significant association (p value trend less than 0.05) with longer TTD included smaller nodule size, pure ground glass nodules (GGNs), smooth/lobulated margins, stages I/II, adenocarcinoma, and decreasing lung cancer mortality. The logistic regression model for lung cancer death showed significant inverse relationships with size less than 20 mm (OR = 0.32), pure GGNs (OR = 0.24), adenocarcinoma (OR = 0.57) and direct relationship with age (OR = 1.4).

Conclusion

TTD after a positive LDCT screen in the NLST showed a strong association with imaging features, stage and mortality.

Key Points

• NLST observed variable time to lung cancer diagnosis from positive baseline screen.

• Time to diagnosis was associated with imaging features, cancer type and stage.

• In univariate but not multivariate analysis, longer TTD correlated with decreased mortality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology- Cardiopulmonary section, University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Medicine, 619 19th St S JTN 363, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA

    Sushilkumar K. Sonavane, Jubal Watts Jr, Satinder P. Singh & Hrudaya Nath

  2. Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Paul Pinsky

  3. Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    David S. Gierada

  4. Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA

    Reginald Munden

Authors
  1. Sushilkumar K. Sonavane
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  2. Paul Pinsky
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  3. Jubal Watts Jr
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  4. David S. Gierada
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  5. Reginald Munden
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  6. Satinder P. Singh
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  7. Hrudaya Nath
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sushilkumar K. Sonavane.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Dr. Paul Pinsky.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Funding

This study has received funding by NIH and our research is a subanalysis from the original data.

Statistics and biometry

One of the authors has significant statistical expertise.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study as a part of NLST enrolment.

Ethical approval

Institutional review board approval was obtained.

Study subjects or cohorts overlap

The study subjects or cohorts have not been previously reported.

Methodology

• Retrospective

• Observational

• Multicentre study

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Sonavane, S.K., Pinsky, P., Watts, J. et al. The relationship of cancer characteristics and patient outcome with time to lung cancer diagnosis after an abnormal screening CT. Eur Radiol 27, 5113–5118 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4886-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4886-9

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