Comparison of Percutaneous Image-Guided Microwave Ablation and Cryoablation for Sarcoma Lung Metastases: A 10-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND. To our knowledge, outcomes between percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) and cryoablation of sarcoma lung metastases have not been compared. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare technical success, complications, local tumor control, and overall survival (OS) after MWA versus cryoablation of sarcoma lung metastases. METHODS. This retrospective cohort study included 27 patients (16 women, 11 men; median age, 64 years; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score, 0-2) who, from 2009 to 2021, underwent 39 percutaneous CT-guided ablation sessions (21 MWA and 18 cryoablation sessions; one to four sessions per patient) to treat 65 sarcoma lung metastases (median number of tumors per patient, one [range, one to 12]; median tumor diameter, 11.0 mm [range, 5-33 mm]; 25% of tumors were nonperipheral). We compared complications according to ablation modality by use of generalized estimating equations. We evaluated ablation modality, tumor size, and location (peripheral vs nonperipheral) in relation to local tumor progression by use of proportional Cox hazard models, with death as the competing risk. We estimated OS using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS. Primary technical success was 97% for both modalities. Median follow-up was 23 months (range, one to 102 months; interquartile range, 12-44 months). A total of seven of 61 tumors (11%) showed local progression. Estimated 1-year and 2-year local control rates were, for tumors 1 cm or smaller, 97% and 95% after MWA versus 99% and 98% after cryoablation, and for tumors larger than 1 cm, 74% and 62% after MWA versus 86% and 79% after cryoablation. Tumor size of 1 cm or smaller was associated with a decreased cumulative incidence of local progression (p = .048); ablation modality and tumor location were not associated with progression (p = .86 and p = .54, respectively). Complications (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] grade, ≤ 3) occurred in 17 of 39 sessions (44%), prompting chest tube placement in nine (23%). There were no CTCAE grade 4 or 5 complications. OS at 1, 2, and 3 years was 100%, 89%, and 82%, respectively. CONCLUSION. High primary technical success, local control, and OS support the use of MWA and cryoablation for treating sarcoma lung metastases. Ablation modality and tumor location did not affect local progression. The rate of local tumor progression was low, especially for small tumors. No life-threatening complications occurred. CLINICAL IMPACT. Percutaneous MWA and cryoablation are both suited for the treatment of sarcoma lung metastases, especially for tumors 1 cm or smaller, whether peripheral or nonperipheral. Complications, if they occur, are not life-threatening.

Lung cancer screening eligibility and use with low-dose computed tomography: Results from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: In randomized controlled trials, lung cancer screening with low-dose chest computed tomography (LCS) has been reported to reduce lung cancer mortality. Although initial studies suggested that only approximately 5% of eligible patients have undergone LCS, recent studies have indicated that use of LCS may be increasing nationwide. The objective of the current study was to estimate recent LCS use using cross-sectional survey data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. METHODS: The BRFSS is a nationally representative, cross-sectional telephone survey of adults in the United States (response rate of approximately 50%). The 2018 BRFSS survey included questions regarding LCS eligibility and use in 8 states. The primary outcome was the percentage of participants (aged 55-79 years with a smoking history of >30 pack-years) who reported undergoing LCS. Logistic regression analyses evaluated the association between LCS use and sociodemographic characteristics, adjusted for potential confounders and accounting for complex survey design elements. RESULTS: A total of 26,910 participants were included, 9.9% of whom were eligible for LCS (95% CI, 8.8%-10.6%). Of the eligible patients, 19.2% reported undergoing LCS (95% CI, 14.0%-24.4%). Approximately 16.4% of current smokers were eligible for LCS (95% CI, 14.2%-18.6%). In our multiple variable analyses of eligible patients, age, sex, marital status, current smoking status, and race were not found to be associated with statistically significant differences in reported LCS (P > .05). Retired patients, patients with personal physicians, and patients who did not complete a high school education were more likely to report receiving LCS (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with previously published studies, the results of the current study suggested that LCS use is increasing. However, LCS use remains low (19%) among eligible participants.

Safety and Success of Repeat Lung Needle Biopsies in Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutant Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Postprogression repeat biopsies are critical in caring for patients with lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. However, hesitation about invasive procedures persists. We assessed safety and tissue adequacy for molecular profiling among repeat postprogression percutaneous transthoracic needle aspirations and biopsies (rebiopsies). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All lung biopsies performed at our hospital from 2009 to 2017 were reviewed. Complications were classified by Society of Interventional Radiology criteria. Complication rates between rebiopsies in EGFR-mutants and all other lung biopsies (controls) were compared using Fisher's exact test. Success of molecular profiling was recorded. RESULTS: During the study period, nine thoracic radiologists performed 107 rebiopsies in 75 EGFR-mutant patients and 2,635 lung biopsies in 2,347 patients for other indications. All biopsies were performed with computed tomography guidance, coaxial technique, and rapid on-site pathologic evaluation (ROSE). The default procedure was to take 22-gauge fine-needle aspirates (FNA) followed by 20-gauge tissue cores. Minor complications occurred in 9 (8.4%) rebiopsies and 503 (19.1%; p = .004) controls, including pneumothoraces not requiring chest tube placement (4 [3.7%] vs. 426 [16.2%] in rebiopsies and controls, respectively; p < .001). The only major complication was pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement, occurring in zero rebiopsies and 38 (1.4%; p = .4) controls. Molecular profiling was requested in 96 (90%) rebiopsies and successful in 92/96 (96%). CONCLUSION: At our center, repeat lung biopsies for postprogression molecular profiling of EGFR-mutant lung cancers result in fewer complications than typical lung biopsies. Coaxial technique, FNA, ROSE, and multiple 20-gauge tissue cores result in excellent specimen adequacy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Repeat percutaneous transthoracic needle aspirations and biopsies for postprogression molecular profiling of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung cancer are safe in everday clinical practice. Coaxial technique, fine-needle aspirates, rapid on-site pathologic evaluation, and multiple 20-gauge tissue cores result in excellent specimen adequacy. Although liquid biopsies are increasingly used, their sensitivity for analysis of resistant EGFR-mutant lung cancers remains limited. Tissue biopsies remain important in this context, especially because osimertinib is now in the frontline setting and T790M is no longer the major finding of interest on molecular profiling.

Feasibility of Perioperative Micro-Computed Tomography of Human Lung Cancer Specimens: A Pilot Study.

CONTEXT.­: Lesion localization during intraoperative frozen section of lung resection specimens can be challenging. Imaging could aid lesion localization while enabling 3-dimensional specimen analysis. OBJECTIVE.­: To assess the feasibility of integrating micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) into the perioperative evaluation of fresh surgical lung resection specimens. DESIGN.­: Fresh lung specimens from patients with a presumptive diagnosis of lung cancer were imaged with micro-CT prior to routine histopathologic and molecular analysis. Micro-CT images were assessed to determine image quality, lesion size, and distance from lesion to the nearest surgical margin. Micro-CT measurements were compared to pathologic measurements using Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS.­: A total of 22 specimens from 21 patients were analyzed (mean image acquisition time, 13 ± 6 minutes). Histologic quality of imaged specimens was indistinguishable from a control group of nonimaged lung specimens. Artifacts, most commonly from specimen deflation (n = 8), obscured fine detail on micro-CT images of 10 specimens. Micro-CT could successfully localize the target lesion in the other 12 specimens. Distance to the nearest surgical margin was determined in 10 specimens. Agreement of micro-CT with final pathology was good, with a mean difference of -2.8% (limits of agreement -14.5% to 20.0%) for lesion size and -0.5 mm (limits of agreement -4.4 to 3.4 mm) for distance to nearest surgical margin. CONCLUSIONS.­: Micro-CT of fresh surgical lung specimens is feasible and has the potential to evaluate the size and location of lesions within resection specimens, as well as distance to the nearest surgical margin, all without compromising specimen integrity.

Process improvement for reducing side discrepancies in radiology reports.

BACKGROUND: Laterality errors in radiology reports can lead to serious errors in management. PURPOSE: To reduce errors related to side discrepancies in radiology reports from thoracic imaging by 50% over a six-month period with education and voice recognition software tools. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All radiology reports at the Thoracic Imaging Division from the fourth quarter of 2016 were reviewed manually for presence of side discrepancies (baseline data). Side discrepancies were defined as a lack of consistency in side labeling of any abnormality in the "Findings" to "Impression" sections of the reports. Process map and Ishikawa fishbone diagram (Microsoft Visio) were created. All thoracic radiologists were educated on side-related errors in radiology reports for plan-design-study-act cycle 1 (PDSA #1). Two weeks later, voice recognition software was configured to capitalize sides (RIGHT and LEFT) in the reports during dictated (PDSA# 2). Radiology reports were analyzed to determine side-discrepancy errors following each PDSA cycle (post-interventional data). Statistical run charts were created using QI Macros statistical software. RESULTS: Baseline data revealed 33 side-discrepancy errors in 47,876 reports with an average of 2.5 errors per week (range = 1-8 errors). Following PDSA #1, there were seven errors pertaining to side discrepancies over a two-week period. Errors declined following implementation of PDSA #2 to meet the target of 0.85 side-discrepancy error per week over seven weeks. CONCLUSION: Automated processes (such as capitalization of sides) help reduce left/right errors substantially without affecting reporting turnaround time.

Correlation of the Strength of Recommendations for Additional Imaging to Adherence Rate and Diagnostic Yield.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the wording of radiologist recommendations for chest CT with the likelihood of recommendation adherence and the diagnostic yield of the recommended follow-up CT imaging. METHODS: This HIPAA-compliant retrospective study had institutional review board approval, including waiver of the requirement for patient consent. All outpatient chest radiographic (CXR) studies performed at a tertiary care academic medical center in 2008 (n = 29,138) were searched to identify examinations with recommendations for chest CT. The wording of chest CT recommendations was classified as conditional or absolute, on the basis of whether the recommendation stood independent of the clinical judgment of the ordering clinician. Using the radiology information system, patients who underwent chest CT within 90 days of the index CXR study containing the recommendation were determined, and the CT studies were evaluated to determine if there were abnormalities corresponding to the CXR abnormalities that prompted the recommendations. Corresponding abnormalities were categorized as clinically relevant or not, on the basis of whether further workup or treatment was warranted. Groups were compared using t tests and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: Recommendations for chest CT appeared in 4.5% of outpatient CXR studies (1,316 of 29,138; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3%-4.8%); 39.4% (519 of 1,316; 95% CI, 36.8%-42.0%) were conditional and 60.6% (797 of 1,316; 95% CI, 58.0%-63.2%) were absolute. Patients with absolute recommendations were significantly more likely to undergo follow-up chest CT within 90 days than patients with conditional recommendations (67.8% vs 45.8%, respectively, P < .001). Despite this difference in provider adherence, there was no significant difference between the conditional and absolute recommendation groups with regard to the incidence of clinically relevant corresponding findings (P = .16) or malignancy (P = .08) on follow-up CT. CONCLUSIONS: Conditional radiologist recommendations are associated with decreased provider adherence, though the likelihood of a clinically relevant finding on follow-up CT is no different than with absolute recommendations.

Percutaneous lung biopsy after pneumonectomy: factors for improving success in the care of patients at high risk.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the risks and complications of CT-guided needle biopsy of lung nodules in patients with a single lung after pneumonectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database search for the records of patients who had undergone lung biopsy over a 9-year period revealed that 1771 patients had done so. Fourteen (0.7%) of these patients (11 men, three women; mean age, 63 years; range, 42.4-79.6 years) had undergone pneumonectomy and been referred for biopsy of the contralateral lung. The images and medical records of these patients were reviewed in detail. RESULTS: Lung biopsy was technically successful in 86% (12/14) of cases. All procedures were fine-needle aspiration, and a core biopsy specimen also was obtained in one case. Fifty percent (6/12) of the procedures were performed with local anesthesia alone and 50% with a combination of local anesthesia and conscious sedation. The pneumothorax rate was 25% (3/12). All pneumothoraces were small and asymptomatic, and none required a chest drain. There were no cases of hemoptysis. No other immediate or delayed complications were encountered. Malignancy was found in 83% (10/12) of cases. In one of the other two cases (8%) the result was false-negative, and in the other, the nodules resolved without chemotherapy and were presumed to be inflammatory. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous lung biopsy performed on the single lung in patients who have undergone pneumonectomy is feasible and successful. Lung biopsy in these circumstances should be performed by an experienced radiologist with thoracic surgical backup.