Incidental detection by computed tomography is an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients operated for nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.

We studied the rate of incidental detection of lung carcinomas and its effect on long-term survival in a nationwide cohort of patients operated for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All patients operated for NSCLC in Iceland during 1991-2010 were included. Demographic and clinicopathological features were compared in patients diagnosed incidentally using chest radiography or computed tomography (CT), and in those with symptomatic presentation. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate prognostic factors. Out of 508 patients, 174 (34%) were diagnosed incidentally; in 26% of cases by chest radiography and in 8% by CT. The CT-detected tumours were significantly smaller than symptomatic tumours, diagnosed at earlier TNM (tumour, node and metastasis) stages and more often of adenocarcinoma histology. 5-year cancer-specific survival for symptomatic versus incidentally diagnosed patients detected by chest radiography and CT was 41%, 57% and 68%, respectively (p=0.003). After adjusting for stage, the hazard ratio (HR) for NSCLC mortality was significantly lower for incidental diagnosis by CT (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31‒0.98; p=0.04) compared to incidental diagnosis by chest radiography (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.70‒1.27; p=0.71) or symptomatic diagnosis (HR 1.0). One-third of surgically treated NSCLCs were detected incidentally, with an increasing rate of incidental CT diagnosis. NSCLC patients diagnosed incidentally by CT appear to have better survival than those diagnosed incidentally by chest radiography, and particularly those who present with symptoms.

Resection rate and operability of elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer: Nationwide study from 1991 to 2014.

OBJECTIVES: An increasing number of elderly patients are diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We compared the surgical resection rate, operability and survival in this age group (≥75 years) to younger patients using centralized databases in Iceland. METHODS: The study population comprised all patients diagnosed with NSCLC in Iceland from 1991 to 2014. A total of 140 elderly patients (≥75 years) with NSCLC underwent pulmonary resection and were compared with 550 surgically resected patients less than 75 years, with respect to resection rate, short and long-term survival and complications of surgery. Reasons for exclusion from surgery were registered for elderly surgical candidates (stages IA-IIB). RESULTS: Surgical resection rate in the elderly group was 18% compared to 32% in the younger age group ( P < 0.001). The most frequent reasons for not operating on elderly patients in stages IA-IIB were poor pulmonary function (58%), heart disease (17%) or multiple comorbidities (17%). The rate of major complications following surgery was comparable in the elderly versus the younger age group, 13 vs 11%, respectively ( P = 0.578). The same was true for 30 day mortality (2 vs 1%, P = 0.397). Five-year overall survival was 40% vs 44% ( P = 0.019) and cancer-specific survival 51% vs 50% ( P = 0.802). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with resectable NSCLC according to stage are frequently excluded from surgery due to comorbid conditions. Although the operated patients may represent a selected group, their favourable 30-day and long-term survival indicate that more elderly patients with NSCLC could be operated on.