Detection of Lung Cancer by Analysis of Exhaled Gas Utilizing Extractive Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectroscopy

In this study, extractive electrospray ionization and mass spectrometry (EESI-MS) was used to evaluate whether volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled gases can serve as specific diagnostic markers of lung cancer. The patients with lung cancer were diagnosed by chest CT or chest X-ray exam and confirmed by histopathology and cytology. Patients with pulmonary infections were identified by imaging, pathological diagnosis, or improvement of symptoms after antiinflammatory treatment. The control group had no lung abnormalities in imaging. Exhaled gases were collected using a Tedlar sampling bag and were detected using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. By combining statistical and analytical chemistry, characteristic volatile organic compounds were screened. The results show that butadiene, orotic acid, tetrahydrobiopterin, and N-phenylacetylglutamine in lung cancer patients are significantly different from those in the control and lung infection groups.