Lung cancer

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This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

[edit intro]

## Contents

* 1 Screening
* 1.1 Practice guidelines
* 1.2 Studies of efficacy
* 1.2.1 Chest x-ray
* 1.2.2 Computed tomography
* 2 Diagnosis
* 2.1 Solitary pulmonary nodule
* 3 Prognosis
* 3.1 Staging
* 4 Treatment
* 5 References

'Lung cancer' refers to a cancer originating in the lung, in contrast to a cancer originating elsewhere in the body and spreading to the lung, a process referred to as metastasis. Lung cancer can itself metastasize to other organs. The leading factor that increases a person's risk of developing lung cancer, exposure of the lungs to tobacco smoke, can occur either through purposely inhaling the smoke from burning tobacco (e.g., smoking cigarettes), or through inhaling tobacco smoke emanating from others actively smoking tobacco products -- i.e., through so-called active or passive smoking. Risk increases with duration and amount of exposure. Exposure to certain environmental pollutants, radiation and asbestos can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Health scientists have identified several different types of lung cancer, not all related specifically to exposure to tobacco smoke.

## Screening[edit]

A pulmonary nodule larger than 5 to 6 mm is considered a positive result for screening with x-ray computed tomography .[1]

### Practice guidelines[edit]

Clinical practice guidelines issued by the American College of Chest Physicians in 2013 recommend[2]:

"For smokers and former smokers who are age 55 to 74 and who have smoked for 30 pack-years or more and either continue to smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, we suggest that annual screening with LDCT should be offered . . . but only in settings that can deliver the comprehensive care provided to NLST participants."

Clinical practice guidelines issued by the American College of Chest Physicians in 2007 recommended against routine screening for lung cancer because of a lack of evidence that such screening was effective.[3]

In 2013, a draft clinical practice guideline by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gave a grade B recommendation and stated "annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in persons at high risk for lung cancer based on age and smoking history".[4] The USPSTF published a systematic review that accompanied the draft clinical practice guideline.[5] In 2004, a clinical practice guideline by the USPSTF gave a grade I recommendation indicating that "the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against screening asymptomatic persons for lung cancer".[6][7]

### Studies of efficacy[edit]

#### Chest x-ray[edit]

Regular chest x-ray and sputum examination programs were not effective in reducing mortality from lung cancer.[8] Previous studies (Mayo Lung Project and Czechoslovakia lung cancer screening study, combining over 17,000 smokers) had shown that early detection of lung cancer was possible with such programs, but mortality was not improved. Simply detecting a tumor at an earlier stage may not necessarily lead to improved survival. For example, plain chest X-ray screening resulted in increased time from diagnosis of cancer until death and those cancers being detected by screening tended to be earlier stages. However, these patients continued to die at the same rate as those who are not screened.

#### Computed tomography[edit]

Annual x-ray computed tomography for three years of patients 55 and 74 years of age and who had smoked at least 30 pack-years, and, "if former smokers, had quit within the previous 15 years" had reduced mortality according to a randomized controlled trial by the National Lung Screening Trial Research Team:[9]* Mortality in the x-ray computed tomography group 1.3%

* Mortality in the chest radiography group 1.7%
* Number needed to treat 292
* Absolute risk reduction 0.34%
* About 25% of the patients had positive results and about 95% of the positive results were false positives

(details of calculation)

Mass screening may improve the stage of lung cancers that are detected.[10][11] The International Early Lung Cancer Action Project cohort study of mass screening with x-ray computed tomography in over 31,000 high-risk patients found that 85% of the 484 detected lung cancers were stage I and thus highly treatable.[11] Mathematically these stage I patients would have an expected 10-year survival of 88%. However, this was an uncontrolled cohort study and the patients were not actually followed out to 10 years post detection (the median followup was 40 months). Additional controversy surrounded the study after a 2008 New York Times report found that it had been funded indirectly by the parent company of the Liggett Group, a tobacco company; the use of tobacco industry funds was not disclosed in the paper.[12]

Mass screening does not clearly reduce mortality. A cohort study found no mortality benefit from mass screening with x-ray computed tomography.[13] 3,200 current or former smokers were screened for 4 years and offered 3 or 4 CT scans. Lung cancer diagnoses were 3 times as high, and surgeries were 10 times as high, as predicted by a model, but there were no significant differences between observed and expected numbers of advanced cancers or deaths.[14] Mass screening with low-dose spiral x-ray computed tomography was not found helpful in the DANTE randomized controlled trial.[15]

Positive results, most of which are false, may occur in a quarter of patients after one round[16][10] and one third of patients after two rounds[16].

## Diagnosis[edit]

### Solitary pulmonary nodule[edit]

A 'practical' algorithm for management has been proposed.[17] A summary is available at JournalWatch.[18]

A clinical prediction rule can help guide assessment.[19] On online version of this calculator is available at http://www.nucmed.com/nucmed/SPN_Risk_Calculator.aspx.

Nodules stable over two years time are likely to be benign (but not always).[20][21] The doubling time for a cancer (a double in volume is a 25% increase in diameter) is usually less than 400 days.[22] The mean doubling time for malignant nodules with a ground glass appearance is 813 days.[20]

Regarding diagnostic imaging, metanalyses of positron-emission computed tomography (PET Scan) with 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) report:

* sensitivity = 97%[23]to 95%[24]
* specificity = 78%[23]to 82%[24]

For dynamic spiral computed tomography:[24]

* sensitivity = 93%
* specificity = 80%

A clinical practice guideline[25] by the American College of Chest Physicians, with accompanying systematic review[21], recommends computed tomography, with dynamic images if available.

5-Year Relative Survival Rates By Year Dx By Cancer Site All Ages, All Races, Both Sexes 1975-2000.

## Prognosis[edit]

### Staging[edit]

Non-small cell lung cancer staging information from the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query

Small cell lung cancer staging information from the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query

## Treatment[edit]

Non-small cell lung cancer treatment information from the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query

Small cell lung cancer treatment information from the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Henschke CI, Yip R, Yankelevitz DF, Smith JP, International Early Lung Cancer Action Program Investigators* (2013). "Definition of a positive test result in computed tomography screening for lung cancer: a cohort study.". Ann Intern Med 158 (4): 246-52. DOI:10.7326/0003-4819-158-4-201302190-00004. PMID 23420233. Research Blogging.
2. ↑ Detterbeck FC, Mazzone PJ, Naidich DP, Bach PB (2013). "Screening for Lung Cancer: Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines.". Chest 143 (5 Suppl): e78S-92S. DOI:10.1378/chest.12-2350. PMID 23649455. Research Blogging. Summary in JournalWatch
3. ↑ Alberts WM (2007). "Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer Executive Summary: ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (2nd Edition)" 132 (3_suppl): 1S–19S. DOI:10.1378/chest.07-1860. PMID 17873156. Research Blogging.
4. ↑ U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2013)Screening for Lung Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement
5. ↑ Humphrey LL, Deffebach M, Pappas M, Baumann C, Artis K, Mitchell JP et al. (2013). "Screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography: a systematic review to update the US Preventive services task force recommendation.". Ann Intern Med 159 (6): 411-20. DOI:10.7326/0003-4819-159-6-201309170-00690. PMID 23897166. Research Blogging.
6. ↑ U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2004). "Lung cancer screening: recommendation statement". Ann. Intern. Med. 140 (9): 738-9. PMID 15126258. [e]
7. ↑ Humphrey LL, Teutsch S, Johnson M (2004). "Lung cancer screening with sputum cytologic examination, chest radiography, and computed tomography: an update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force". Ann. Intern. Med. 140 (9): 740-53. PMID 15126259. [e]
8. ↑ Manser RL, Irving LB, Stone C, Byrnes G, Abramson M, Campbell D (2004). "Screening for lung cancer". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (1): CD001991. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD001991.pub2. PMID 14973979. Research Blogging.
9. ↑ (2011) "Reduced Lung-Cancer Mortality with Low-Dose Computed Tomographic Screening.". N Engl J Med. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa1102873. PMID 21714641. Research Blogging.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Gohagan JK, Marcus PM, Fagerstrom RM, et al (2005). "Final results of the Lung Screening Study, a randomized feasibility study of spiral CT versus chest X-ray screening for lung cancer". Lung Cancer 47 (1): 9-15. DOI:10.1016/j.lungcan.2004.06.007. PMID 15603850. Research Blogging.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Henschke CI, Yankelevitz DF, Libby DM, Pasmantier MW, Smith JP, Miettinen OS (2006). "Survival of patients with stage I lung cancer detected on CT screening". N. Engl. J. Med. 355 (17): 1763-71. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa060476. PMID 17065637. Research Blogging.
12. ↑ Cigarette Company Paid for Lung Cancer Study, by Gardiner Harris. Published in the New York Times on March 26, 2008. Accessed March 26, 2008.
13. ↑ Bach PB, Jett JR, Pastorino U, Tockman MS, Swensen SJ, Begg CB (2007). "Computed tomography screening and lung cancer outcomes". JAMA 297 (9): 953-61. DOI:10.1001/jama.297.9.953. PMID 17341709. Research Blogging.
14. ↑ Crestanello JA, Allen MS, Jett J, Cassivi SD, et al. (2004). "Thoracic surgical operations in patients enrolled in a computed tomographic screening trial". Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 128 (2): 254-259. PMID 15282462.
15. ↑ Infante M, Cavuto S, Lutman FR, Brambilla G, Chiesa G, Ceresoli G et al. (2009). "A randomized study of lung cancer screening with spiral computed tomography: three-year results from the DANTE trial.". Am J Respir Crit Care Med 180 (5): 445-53. DOI:10.1164/rccm.200901-0076OC. PMID 19520905. Research Blogging. Review in: Ann Intern Med. 2009 Dec 15;151(12):JC6-11
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Croswell JM, Baker SG, Marcus PM, Clapp JD, Kramer BS (2010). "Cumulative incidence of false-positive test results in lung cancer screening: a randomized trial.". Ann Intern Med 152 (8): 505-12, W176-80. DOI:10.1059/0003-4819-152-8-201004200-00007. PMID 20404381. Research Blogging.
17. ↑ Patel VK, Naik SK, Naidich DP, Travis WD, Weingarten JA, Lazzaro R et al. (2013). "A practical algorithmic approach to the diagnosis and management of solitary pulmonary nodules: part 1: radiologic characteristics and imaging modalities.". Chest 143 (3): 825-39. DOI:10.1378/chest.12-0960. PMID 23460160. Research Blogging.
18. ↑ Brett AS. (2013) An Approach to Solitary Pulmonary Nodules. Journal Watch Hospital Medicine
19. ↑ Swensen SJ, Silverstein MD, Ilstrup DM, Schleck CD, Edell ES (April 1997). "The probability of malignancy in solitary pulmonary nodules. Application to small radiologically indeterminate nodules". Arch. Intern. Med. 157 (8): 849–55. PMID 9129544. [e]
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Hasegawa M, Sone S, Takashima S, et al (December 2000). "Growth rate of small lung cancers detected on mass CT screening". Br J Radiol 73 (876): 1252–9. PMID 11205667. [e]
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Wahidi MM, Govert JA, Goudar RK, Gould MK, McCrory DC (September 2007). "Evidence for the treatment of patients with pulmonary nodules: when is it lung cancer?: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition)". Chest 132 (3 Suppl): 94S–107S. DOI:10.1378/chest.07-1352. PMID 17873163. Research Blogging.
22. ↑ van Klaveren RJ, Oudkerk M, Prokop M, Scholten ET, Nackaerts K, Vernhout R et al. (2009). "Management of Lung Nodules Detected by Volume CT Scanning.". N Engl J Med 361 (23): 2221-2229. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa0906085. PMID 19955524. Research Blogging.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Gould MK, Maclean CC, Kuschner WG, Rydzak CE, Owens DK (February 2001). "Accuracy of positron emission tomography for diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and mass lesions: a meta-analysis". JAMA 285 (7): 914–24. PMID 11180735. [e] ACPJC Review
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Cronin P, Dwamena BA, Kelly AM, Carlos RC (March 2008). "Solitary pulmonary nodules: meta-analytic comparison of cross-sectional imaging modalities for diagnosis of malignancy". Radiology 246 (3): 772–82. DOI:10.1148/radiol.2463062148. PMID 18235105. Research Blogging. ACPJC Review
25. ↑ Gould MK, Fletcher J, Iannettoni MD, et al (September 2007). "Evaluation of patients with pulmonary nodules: when is it lung cancer?: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition)". Chest 132 (3 Suppl): 108S–130S. DOI:10.1378/chest.07-1353. PMID 17873164. Research Blogging.