Lung Cancer Screening: Use of Low-Dose Computed Tomography. / Diagnóstico precoz del cáncer de pulmón: utilidad de la tomografía computarizada de baja dosis de radiación.

INTRODUCTION: The prognosis of lung cancer (LC) correlates directly with the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed low-dose CT (LDCT) in asymptomatic individuals ≥50years old, smokers or former smokers of ≥10 pack-years, with no history of cancer. We followed an evaluation algorithm, according to the size and morphology of the nodules. The appropriate treatment for the LC diagnosis was given and patients were followed up for 5years. RESULTS: We studied 4,951 individuals (65.4% males) with an average age of 56.89±5.26years; 550 presented nodules. Of the 3,891 nodules detected, 692 (19.57%) were considered positive, and 38 tumors (36LC) were identified. In the annual follow-up, nodules were found in 224 subjects, 288 (7.91%) of which were positive (13LC). In 80%, the study was performed with LDCT, and biopsy was indicated in 5.8% (baseline) and in 7.6% (annual) of the positive nodules. Prevalence was 0.89 and incidence was 0.1%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV in the baseline study were 92.31, 89.54, 6.55 and 99.93%, respectively, and in the annual study, they were 76.92, 95.7, 4.52 and 99.94%, respectively. A total of 52 tumors were detected (49LC), 25 (52.08%) in stageI. The 5-year overall survival rate for LC was 58.5% and cancer-specific survival was 67.1% (75.8% in surgical patients). CONCLUSION: LDCT integrated into an elaborate nodule detection and evaluation program is a useful tool for diagnosing early-stage LC.

Diagnóstico precoz del cáncer de pulmón: utilidad de la tomografía computarizada de baja dosis de radiación / Lung Cancer Screening: Use of Low-Dose Computed Tomography

Introducción: El pronóstico del cáncer de pulmón (CP) está relacionado directamente con el estadio de la enfermedad al diagnóstico. Material y métodos: Realizamos TC de baja dosis (TCBD) a personas asintomáticas ≥ 50 años, fumadores o exfumadores de ≥ 10 paquetes-año, sin antecedentes oncológicos. Seguimos un algoritmo de evaluación según el tamaño y la morfología de los nódulos. En los CP diagnosticados se estableció el tratamiento adecuado y el seguimiento fue de 5 años. Resultados: Estudiamos 4.951 personas (65,4% varones) con una media de edad de 56,89 ± 5,26 años; 550 presentaron nódulos. De 3.891 nódulos detectados, 692 (19,57%) fueron considerados positivos, hallando 38 tumores (36 CP). En el estudio anual, 224 sujetos mostraban algún nódulo, siendo 288 (7,91%) positivos (13 CP). En el 80% el control se realizó con TCBD y se indicó biopsia en el 5,8% (basal) y 7,6% (anual) de los nódulos positivos. La prevalencia fue del 0,89 y la incidencia del 0,1%. La sensibilidad, la especificidad, el VPP y el VPN en el estudio basal fueron del 92,31, del 89,54, del 6,55 y del 99,93%, respectivamente, y en el anual, del 76,92, del 95,7, del 4,52 y del 99,94%, respectivamente. Se detectaron 52 tumores (49 CP), 25 (52,08%) en estadio I. La supervivencia global de los CP fue del 58,5% a los 5 años, y la supervivencia cáncer específica, del 67,1% (75,8% en los pacientes quirúrgicos). Conclusiones: La TCBD integrada en un programa elaborado de detección y evaluación de nódulos es una herramienta útil para diagnosticar CP en estadio precoz

Introduction: The prognosis of lung cancer (LC) correlates directly with the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Material and methods: We performed low-dose CT (LDCT) in asymptomatic individuals ≥ 50 years old, smokers or former smokers of ≥ 10 pack-years, with no history of cancer. We followed an evaluation algorithm, according to the size and morphology of the nodules. The appropriate treatment for the LC diagnosis was given and patients were followed up for 5 years. Results: We studied 4,951 individuals (65.4% males) with an average age of 56.89 ± 5.26 years; 550 presented nodules. Of the 3,891 nodules detected, 692 (19.57%) were considered positive, and 38 tumors (36 LC) were identified. In the annual follow-up, nodules were found in 224 subjects, 288 (7.91%) of which were positive (13 LC). In 80%, the study was performed with LDCT, and biopsy was indicated in 5.8% (baseline) and in 7.6% (annual) of the positive nodules. Prevalence was 0.89 and incidence was 0.1%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV in the baseline study were 92.31, 89.54, 6.55 and 99.93%, respectively, and in the annual study, they were 76.92, 95.7, 4.52 and 99.94%, respectively. A total of 52 tumors were detected (49 LC), 25 (52.08%) in stage I. The 5-year overall survival rate for LC was 58.5% and cancer-specific survival was 67.1% (75.8% in surgical patients). Conclusion: LDCT integrated into an elaborate nodule detection and evaluation program is a useful tool for diagnosing early-stage LC