[CT Scan in early detection of lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : a retrospective...

To explore the possible benefit of detecting lung cancer in COPD patients and to assess the pulmonologist's compliance with the Fleischner Society guidelines for management of pulmonary nodules.

This monocentric retrospective study was approved by the institutional ethical Committee. Patients with COPD undergoing a CT scan between January 2010 and March 2017 were included. Depending on CT indication (respectively screening or other indications), patients were divided into Group 1 and 2. Follow-up intervals were compared to those recommended in the Fleischner Society guidelines. Data were compared between groups using Chisquared test, Student test, or Wilcoxon test when appropriate.

254 patients were included (134 in Group 1 and 120 in Group 2). 235 opacities were found in 119 patients (47 %). 13 among 254 patients had a lung cancer; 9 in Group 1 (6.7 %) and 4 in Group 2 (3.3 %). The median follow-up by CT after nodule detection was six months regardless of their diameter or attenuation. No statistical significance was found between the observed follow-up and recommendations (P = 0.058).

COPD in patients with a history of smoking is associated with a higher CT detection rate of lung cancer. This finding may be useful when evaluating selection criteria in lung screening programs. In contrast with the recommendations, CT detected nodules are followed-up regardless of their diameter and attenuation.