Ms. Ginsberg et al., Pulmonary nodules resected at video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: Etiology in 426 patients, RADIOLOGY, 213(1), 1999, pp. 277-282
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
PURPOSE: To determine the etiology of pulmonary nodules resected at video-a
ssisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and establish the probabilities that s
ingle or multiple nodules resected at VATS represent malignancy in patients
with or Patients without known cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathology reports from VATS performed between Januar
y 1995 and July 1997 were searched for data on gross specimens revealing pu
lmonary nodules 3 cm or smaller. Findings were correlated with clinical and
histologic data.
RESULTS: In 254 patients with one nodule resected at VATS,the nodules were
malignant in 108 patients with and in 32 patients without known cancer (P <
.03). Among 172 patients with multiple nodules resected, at least one nodul
e was malignant in 85 patients with and in 20 patients without known cancer
(P >.05). Nodules larger than 1 cm were more likely to be malignant than w
ere smaller nodules (P <.002). In patients with known malignancy nodules sm
aller than 0.5 cm were more likely to be benign, whereas nodules larger tha
n 0.5 cm but smaller than 1 cm were more likely to be malignant (P <.001).
CONCLUSION: A single pulmonary nodule resected at VATS was more likely to b
e malignant in patients with known cancer. Nodules larger than 1 cm but sma
ller than 3 cm resected at VATS were more likely to be malignant. Nodules S
maller than 0.5 cm were more likely to be benign.