Objective: To evaluate the prognostic impact of radiologic and pathologic features in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and to identify the factors associated with the development of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) and survival. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 75 patients diagnosed with ILD other than IPF who underwent surgical lung biopsy between January 2004 and December 2020. Three chest radiologists independently reviewed the CT features and extent of fibrosis on preoperative and follow-up CT scans. Two pathologists reviewed the histopathological features, including the presence of interstitial pneumonia. The time to PPF and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The associations of CT and pathological features with PPF and all-cause mortality were examined using standard Cox regression and time-dependent Cox models, respectively. Results: A total of 75 non-IPF ILD patients (mean age ± standard deviations 56.4 ± 13.2 years; range, 40–88 years) were enrolled. The median follow-up duration was 75.3 months (range, 7.8–189.8 months). Traction bronchiectasis on CT (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 6.40; P = 0.003) and body mass index (adjusted HR per 1-kg/m2 increase, 0.82; P = 0.002) were found to be significantly associated with PPF in multivariable analysis. Radiological progression (adjusted HR, 18.44;P < 0.001), symptomatic progression (adjusted HR, 4.19; P = 0.011), and age (adjusted HR for 1-year increase, 1.12; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with death. Conclusion Traction bronchiectasis on CT was a significant predictor of PPF, while radiologic and symptomatic progression and older age were associated with poorer survival in patients with ILD other than IPF. These findings indicate that careful radiological evaluation and symptom monitoring may help to predict disease progression and outcomes in patients with nonIPF ILD.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) scans are utilized to assess emphysema, a prominent phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Variability in CT protocols and equipment across hospitals can impact accuracy. This study aims to implement kernel conversion across different CT settings and evaluate changes in the correlation between the emphysema index pre- and post-kernel conversion, along with clinical measures in COPD patients. Methods: Data were extracted from the Korea COPD Subgroup Study database, which included CT scan images from 484 COPD patients. These images underwent kernel conversion. Emphysema extent was quantified using the percentage of low-attenuation areas (%LAA-950) determined by a deep learning-based program. The correlation between %LAA-950 and clinical parameters, including lung function tests, the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), COPD assessment test (CAT), and the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-c), was analyzed. Subsequently, these values were compared across various CT settings. Results: A total of 484 participants were included. Kernel conversion significantly reduced the variance in %LAA-950 values (before vs. after: 12.6±11.0 vs. 8.8±11.9). Post-kernel conversion, %LAA-950 demonstrated moderate correlations with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (r=–0.41), residual volume/total lung capacity (r=0.42), mMRC (r=0.25), CAT score (r=0.12), SGRQ-c (r=0.21), and 6MWD (r=0.15), all of which were improved compared to the unconverted dataset (all p<0.01). Conclusion CT images processed through kernel conversion enhance the correlation between the extent of emphysema and clinical parameters in COPD.

Purpose: We aim to determine whether preoperative percutaneous needle aspiration or biopsy (PCNA/Bx) increases recurrence risk and reduces survival in stage I lung cancer patients, using a nationwide lung cancer registry. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively included 3,452 patients diagnosed with stage I lung cancer who underwent curative surgery between 2014 and 2019, as recorded in the Korean Association of Lung Cancer Registry. To balance the characteristics of patients with and without PCNA/Bx, we applied inverse probability of treatment weighting. We used cumulative incidence plots and a weighted subdistribution hazard model to analyze time to recurrence. Recurrence-free survival and overall survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and weighted Cox proportional hazard ratio models. Results: In patients with adenocarcinoma, the use of PCNA/Bx was associated with a 1.9-fold increase (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 2.4) in the risk of recurrence and a 1.7-fold decrease (95% CI, 1.3 to 2.2) in recurrence-free survival. Subgroup analysis based on pathologic pleural invasion revealed that the risk of recurrence increased when PCNA/Bx was performed, with 2.1-fold (95% CI, 1.5 to 2.8) in patients without pleural invasion and 1.6-fold (95% CI, 1.0 to 2.4) in those with pleural invasion. No association was found between the use of PCNA/Bx and overall survival. Conclusion Preoperative PCNA/Bx was associated with increased recurrence risks in stage I adenocarcinoma, regardless of pathologic pleural invasion status. In early lung cancer cases where adenocarcinoma is strongly suspected and curative surgery is feasible, the use of transthoracic biopsy should be approached with caution.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) scans are utilized to assess emphysema, a prominent phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Variability in CT protocols and equipment across hospitals can impact accuracy. This study aims to implement kernel conversion across different CT settings and evaluate changes in the correlation between the emphysema index pre- and post-kernel conversion, along with clinical measures in COPD patients. Methods: Data were extracted from the Korea COPD Subgroup Study database, which included CT scan images from 484 COPD patients. These images underwent kernel conversion. Emphysema extent was quantified using the percentage of low-attenuation areas (%LAA-950) determined by a deep learning-based program. The correlation between %LAA-950 and clinical parameters, including lung function tests, the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), COPD assessment test (CAT), and the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-c), was analyzed. Subsequently, these values were compared across various CT settings. Results: A total of 484 participants were included. Kernel conversion significantly reduced the variance in %LAA-950 values (before vs. after: 12.6±11.0 vs. 8.8±11.9). Post-kernel conversion, %LAA-950 demonstrated moderate correlations with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (r=–0.41), residual volume/total lung capacity (r=0.42), mMRC (r=0.25), CAT score (r=0.12), SGRQ-c (r=0.21), and 6MWD (r=0.15), all of which were improved compared to the unconverted dataset (all p<0.01). Conclusion CT images processed through kernel conversion enhance the correlation between the extent of emphysema and clinical parameters in COPD.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) scans are utilized to assess emphysema, a prominent phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Variability in CT protocols and equipment across hospitals can impact accuracy. This study aims to implement kernel conversion across different CT settings and evaluate changes in the correlation between the emphysema index pre- and post-kernel conversion, along with clinical measures in COPD patients. Methods: Data were extracted from the Korea COPD Subgroup Study database, which included CT scan images from 484 COPD patients. These images underwent kernel conversion. Emphysema extent was quantified using the percentage of low-attenuation areas (%LAA-950) determined by a deep learning-based program. The correlation between %LAA-950 and clinical parameters, including lung function tests, the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), COPD assessment test (CAT), and the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-c), was analyzed. Subsequently, these values were compared across various CT settings. Results: A total of 484 participants were included. Kernel conversion significantly reduced the variance in %LAA-950 values (before vs. after: 12.6±11.0 vs. 8.8±11.9). Post-kernel conversion, %LAA-950 demonstrated moderate correlations with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (r=–0.41), residual volume/total lung capacity (r=0.42), mMRC (r=0.25), CAT score (r=0.12), SGRQ-c (r=0.21), and 6MWD (r=0.15), all of which were improved compared to the unconverted dataset (all p<0.01). Conclusion CT images processed through kernel conversion enhance the correlation between the extent of emphysema and clinical parameters in COPD.

Purpose: We aim to determine whether preoperative percutaneous needle aspiration or biopsy (PCNA/Bx) increases recurrence risk and reduces survival in stage I lung cancer patients, using a nationwide lung cancer registry. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively included 3,452 patients diagnosed with stage I lung cancer who underwent curative surgery between 2014 and 2019, as recorded in the Korean Association of Lung Cancer Registry. To balance the characteristics of patients with and without PCNA/Bx, we applied inverse probability of treatment weighting. We used cumulative incidence plots and a weighted subdistribution hazard model to analyze time to recurrence. Recurrence-free survival and overall survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and weighted Cox proportional hazard ratio models. Results: In patients with adenocarcinoma, the use of PCNA/Bx was associated with a 1.9-fold increase (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 2.4) in the risk of recurrence and a 1.7-fold decrease (95% CI, 1.3 to 2.2) in recurrence-free survival. Subgroup analysis based on pathologic pleural invasion revealed that the risk of recurrence increased when PCNA/Bx was performed, with 2.1-fold (95% CI, 1.5 to 2.8) in patients without pleural invasion and 1.6-fold (95% CI, 1.0 to 2.4) in those with pleural invasion. No association was found between the use of PCNA/Bx and overall survival. Conclusion Preoperative PCNA/Bx was associated with increased recurrence risks in stage I adenocarcinoma, regardless of pathologic pleural invasion status. In early lung cancer cases where adenocarcinoma is strongly suspected and curative surgery is feasible, the use of transthoracic biopsy should be approached with caution.