RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Outcome of incidentally detected airway nodules
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1510
OP 1517
DO 10.1183/13993003.01992-2015
VO 47
IS 5
A1 Hyung-Jun Kim
A1 Deog Kyeom Kim
A1 Young Whan Kim
A1 Yeon Joo Lee
A1 Jong Sun Park
A1 Young-Jae Cho
A1 Se Joong Kim
A1 Ho Il Yoon
A1 Jae Ho Lee
A1 Choon-Taek Lee
YR 2016
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/47/5/1510.abstract
AB Low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) screening increased detection of airway nodules. Most nodules appear to be secretions, but pathological lesions may show similar findings. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends repeating LDCT after 1 month and proceeding to bronchoscopy if the nodules persist. However, no reports exist about incidentally detected airway nodules. We investigated the significance of airway nodules detected by LDCT screening.We screened patients with incidental airway nodules detected by LDCT in the Seoul National University Hospital group. The characteristics of computed tomography, bronchoscopy, pathology and clinical findings were analysed.Among 53 036 individuals who underwent LDCT screening, 313 (0.6%) had airway nodules. Of these, 186 (59.4%) were followed-up with chest computed tomography and/or bronchoscopy. Seven (3.8%) cases had significant lesions, including leiomyoma (n=2), endobronchial tuberculosis (n=2), chronic inflammation (n=1), hamartoma (n=1) and benign granuloma (n=1). The remaining 179 lesions were transient, suggesting that they were secretions.The use of LDCT for lung cancer screening demonstrated the low incidence of airway lesions. Most lesions were transient secretions. True pathological lesions were rare, and no malignant lesion was found. The current recommendation of the NCCN guideline is a reasonable approach that can avoid unnecessary bronchoscopy.The current NCCN guidelines for incidentally found airway nodules seem to be a reasonable approach http://ow.ly/Ywn6A