Dynamic Observation of Lung Nodules on Chest CT Before Diagnosis of Early Lung Cancer
ObjectiveEarly recognition and diagnosis of lung cancer can help improve the prognosis of patients. However, early imaging patterns of malignant lung nodules are not fully clear. To understand the early imaging signs of malignant lung cancer nodules, the changes of the lung nodules before diagnosis...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.713881/full |
| _version_ | 1818487600913055744 |
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| author | Qiaodan Du Jia Peng Xiuyu Wang MingFang Ji Yuting Liao Binghang Tang |
| author_facet | Qiaodan Du Jia Peng Xiuyu Wang MingFang Ji Yuting Liao Binghang Tang |
| author_sort | Qiaodan Du |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveEarly recognition and diagnosis of lung cancer can help improve the prognosis of patients. However, early imaging patterns of malignant lung nodules are not fully clear. To understand the early imaging signs of malignant lung cancer nodules, the changes of the lung nodules before diagnosis were dynamically observed and analyzed.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study observed dynamic changes of lung nodules before pathological confirmation with consecutive regular chest CT examination from January 2003 to December 2018. At least 3 follow-up CT scans were performed in all cases, and the interval between each follow-up was about 1 year. The size, density, and morphological signs of the nodules were evaluated based on the CT axial image, and a reverse line chart or scatter plot with the diagnosis time as coordinate origin was constructed.ResultsA total of 55 lung nodules in 53 patients (mean age, 58.40 years ±11.43 [standard deviation]; 20 women) were accessed. The follow-up time was 5.96 ± 2.68 years. The average diameters in maximum slice of the lesion at baseline and last scan were 6.83 ± 2.92 mm and 16.65 ± 7.34 mm, respectively. According to the reverse line chart, the nodule growth curve segments within 4 years from the last scan showed an ascending shape, and those beyond 4 years showed a flat shape. There are 90.9% (50/55) GGN and 9.1% (5/55) SN when the lesion first appears, and 21.8% (12/55) GGN, 38.2% (21/55) PSN, and 40% (22/55) SN in the last scan. There are 12.7% (7/55) and 98.2% (54/55) nodules with poor morphological signs at baseline and last scan, respectively.ConclusionAt the time node close to the diagnosis, the growth curve showed an upward pattern; the proportion of PSN and SN rose as the main density types; and the appearance of poor morphological signs of nodules increased. When a persistent lung nodule starts to show a malignant change, a further diagnostic workup is warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:40:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-397449fdac034f74b9d3fbe1dbab67cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:40:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-397449fdac034f74b9d3fbe1dbab67cb2022-12-22T01:41:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2022-03-011210.3389/fonc.2022.713881713881Dynamic Observation of Lung Nodules on Chest CT Before Diagnosis of Early Lung CancerQiaodan Du0Jia Peng1Xiuyu Wang2MingFang Ji3Yuting Liao4Binghang Tang5Medical Imaging Center, Zhongshan People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, ChinaMedical Imaging Center, Zhongshan People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, ChinaMedical Imaging Center, Zhongshan People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, ChinaCancer Research Institute, Zhongshan People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, ChinaGE Healthcare Pharmaceutical Diagnostics, Shanghai, ChinaMedical Imaging Center, Zhongshan People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, ChinaObjectiveEarly recognition and diagnosis of lung cancer can help improve the prognosis of patients. However, early imaging patterns of malignant lung nodules are not fully clear. To understand the early imaging signs of malignant lung cancer nodules, the changes of the lung nodules before diagnosis were dynamically observed and analyzed.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study observed dynamic changes of lung nodules before pathological confirmation with consecutive regular chest CT examination from January 2003 to December 2018. At least 3 follow-up CT scans were performed in all cases, and the interval between each follow-up was about 1 year. The size, density, and morphological signs of the nodules were evaluated based on the CT axial image, and a reverse line chart or scatter plot with the diagnosis time as coordinate origin was constructed.ResultsA total of 55 lung nodules in 53 patients (mean age, 58.40 years ±11.43 [standard deviation]; 20 women) were accessed. The follow-up time was 5.96 ± 2.68 years. The average diameters in maximum slice of the lesion at baseline and last scan were 6.83 ± 2.92 mm and 16.65 ± 7.34 mm, respectively. According to the reverse line chart, the nodule growth curve segments within 4 years from the last scan showed an ascending shape, and those beyond 4 years showed a flat shape. There are 90.9% (50/55) GGN and 9.1% (5/55) SN when the lesion first appears, and 21.8% (12/55) GGN, 38.2% (21/55) PSN, and 40% (22/55) SN in the last scan. There are 12.7% (7/55) and 98.2% (54/55) nodules with poor morphological signs at baseline and last scan, respectively.ConclusionAt the time node close to the diagnosis, the growth curve showed an upward pattern; the proportion of PSN and SN rose as the main density types; and the appearance of poor morphological signs of nodules increased. When a persistent lung nodule starts to show a malignant change, a further diagnostic workup is warranted.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.713881/fulllung noduleschest CTdynamic observationlung cancerearly diagnosis |
| spellingShingle | Qiaodan Du Jia Peng Xiuyu Wang MingFang Ji Yuting Liao Binghang Tang Dynamic Observation of Lung Nodules on Chest CT Before Diagnosis of Early Lung Cancer Frontiers in Oncology lung nodules chest CT dynamic observation lung cancer early diagnosis |
| title | Dynamic Observation of Lung Nodules on Chest CT Before Diagnosis of Early Lung Cancer |
| title_full | Dynamic Observation of Lung Nodules on Chest CT Before Diagnosis of Early Lung Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic Observation of Lung Nodules on Chest CT Before Diagnosis of Early Lung Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic Observation of Lung Nodules on Chest CT Before Diagnosis of Early Lung Cancer |
| title_short | Dynamic Observation of Lung Nodules on Chest CT Before Diagnosis of Early Lung Cancer |
| title_sort | dynamic observation of lung nodules on chest ct before diagnosis of early lung cancer |
| topic | lung nodules chest CT dynamic observation lung cancer early diagnosis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.713881/full |
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