Place of vibration response imaging in preoperative lung cancer patients

In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the vibration response imaging (VRI) as the second-line test in preoperative evaluation of the patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in prediction of the predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (ppo FEV1).

A total of 31 patients scheduled for surgery underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs), VRIxp and quantitative lung perfusion scintigraphy (LPS) in order to predict postoperative lung functions. PFTs and VRI were repeated between 4th and 6th postoperative weeks and FEV1 and FEV1% values were compared with preoperative VRI and ppo-FEV1 calculated with perfusion scintigraphy. Statistical analysis of 31 patients under postoperative follow-up was performed in two parts. In the first part, two preoperative prediction methods (ppo based on perfusion and ppo calculated with VRI), and in the second part, estimated values and postoperative actual values (considering postoperative spirometric values as standard) were compared.

An agreement rate of 52% was found between the ppo values calculated with VRI and with perfusion. This rate was low, although respective predictive values for ppo VRI and ppo perfusion were 84% and 47%, suggesting that ppo VRI was more significant than LPS for prediction of the 1st month postoperative value in the patients included in this study.

VRIxp has a high-accuracy rate in prediction postoperative FEV1. It is seemed as an alternative to quantitative perfusion scintigraphy for preoperative evaluation, because it can be easily applied at the bedside as a radiation free and non-invasive method.