Optimizing health care resource utilization in the surgical management of patients with suspected lung cancer

Surgical resection for tissue diagnosis of lung nodules exposes patients to unnecessary risks and consumes health care resources for questionable benefit. We describe the impact of routine percutaneous lung biopsy on the management of suspicious lung nodules.

A retrospective review of consecutive patients referred to a regional cancer assessment center for evaluation of suspected primary or metastatic lung cancer was performed.

From 2008 to 2010, 901 patients (male to female ratio, 0.97:1 [443 to 458]; mean age, 69.4 ± 0.3 years) underwent 1,016 percutaneous lung biopsy (fluoroscopy, 77%; computed tomography-guided, 20%). Diagnoses were non-small cell lung cancer (602 of 901; 66.8%), other malignancy (159 of 901; 17.6%), indeterminate (61 of 901; 6.8%), benign (47 of 901; 5.2%), or nondiagnostic (32 of 901; 3.6%). Of these, 393 (43.6%) were surgical candidates. Operation was avoided in 16.0% (63 of 393; benign, 36; indeterminate, 13; nondiagnostic, 14). Computed tomography follow-up in 82.5% (52 of 63) showed no change or resolution at 14.0 ± 1 months. Only 2.7% (9 of 330) underwent resection of a pathologically benign nodule. Diagnostic yield of percutaneous lung biopsy was 82.7%. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values, respectively, were 100% (95% confidence interval, 98 to 100), 75% (95% confidence interval, 22 to 99), 99.7% (95% confidence interval, 98 to 100), and 100% (95% confidence interval, 31 to 100). The mean operating room time saved with this strategy was 165 ± 13.2 hours. The total cost of performing routine percutaneous biopsy ($395,500) was 44.5% of the cost of upfront wedge resection for tissue diagnosis ($888,300).

In surgical candidates, routine needle biopsy of suspicious lung nodules may lead to decreased costs, more efficient use of limited operating room resources, and a low probability of resecting pathologically benign lesions.