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Predictive factors for malignancy in incidental pulmonary nodules detected in breast cancer patients at baseline CT

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Abstract

Objectives

Pulmonary nodules are commonly encountered at staging CTs in patients with extrathoracic malignancies, but their significance on a per-patient basis remains uncertain.

Methods

We undertook a retrospective analysis of pulmonary nodules identified in patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer from 2010 – 2015, evaluating nodules present at a baseline CT (i.e. prevalent nodules). We reviewed 211 patients with 248 individual nodules.

Results

The rate of malignancy in prevalent nodules is low, approximately 13 %. Variables associated with metastasis include pleural studding, hilar lymphadenopathy and the presence of extrapulmonary metastasis, as well as number of nodules, nodule size and nodule shape. Using a combination of these factors, we have developed an evidence-based multivariate decision tree to predict which nodules are malignant in these patients, which is 91 % accurate and 100 % sensitive for metastasis.

Conclusions

We propose a simplified clinical prediction algorithm to guide radiologists and oncologists in managing patients with breast cancer and incidental pulmonary nodules.

Key points

• Incidental pulmonary nodules are common on computed tomography in breast cancer patients.

• Nodules present at baseline have a lower malignancy risk than incident nodules.

• We present an evidence-based decision algorithm predicting which nodules are likely malignant.

• This algorithm can help direct patient management.

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Eduardo Barbosa. 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. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. The authors have significant statistical expertise. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board. Methodology: retrospective, diagnostic study, performed at one institution. Author contributions: MMH collected the data. MMH and EB analysed the data and wrote the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiothoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Ground Floor Founders Bldg., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Mark M. Hammer & Eduardo J. Mortani Barbosa Jr.

Authors
  1. Mark M. Hammer
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  2. Eduardo J. Mortani Barbosa Jr.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eduardo J. Mortani Barbosa Jr..

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Hammer, M.M., Mortani Barbosa, E.J. Predictive factors for malignancy in incidental pulmonary nodules detected in breast cancer patients at baseline CT. Eur Radiol 27, 2802–2809 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4627-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4627-5

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