Approaches to lung nodule risk assessment: clinician intuition versus prediction models

Pulmonary nodules are increasingly identified on imaging exams performed for a number of clinical presentations and can pose a diagnostic problem for clinicians. Guideline-directed management algorithms are structured on nodule pre-test probability of malignancy. The risk of malignancy can be clinician-assigned or calculated utilizing validated risk prediction calculators. Once pre-test probability of cancer is estimated, nodule management options range from a conservative approach with serial imaging to more invasive measures including biopsy procedures or surgical resection. Here we review pulmonary nodule management with a focus on methods for assigning malignancy risk and highlight novel ways currently under active research to improve nodule risk assessment and management.