Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be detected with enlarged lymph nodes on imaging, but their benignity and malignancy are difficult to determine directly, making it difficult to stage the tumor and design radiotherapy target volumes. The clinical diagnosis of malignant lymph nodes is often based on the short diameter of lymph nodes ≥1 cm or the maximum standard uptake value ≥2.5, but the sensitivity and specificity of these criteria are too low to meet the clinical needs. In recent years, many advances have been made in diagnosing benign and malignant lymph nodes using other imaging parameters, and with the development of radiomics, deep learning and other technologies, models of mining the image information of enlarged lymph node regions further improve the diagnostic accuracy. The purpose of this paper is to review recent advances in imaging-based diagnosis of benign and malignant enlarged lymph nodes in NSCLC for more accurate and noninvasive assessment of lymph node status in clinical practice.
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Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective: Solid and micropapillary pattern are highly invasive histologic subtypes in lung adenocarcinoma and are associated with poor prognosis while the biopsy sample is not enough for the accurate histological diagnosis. This study aims to assess the correlation and predictive efficacy between metabolic parameters in (18)F-fluorodeoxy glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT), including the maximum SUV (SUV(max)), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and solid and micropapillary histological subtypes in lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: A total of 145 resected lung adenocarcinomas were included. The clinical data and preoperative (18)F-FDG PET-CT data were retrospectively analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of the metabolic parameters between solid and micropapillary subtype group and other subtypes group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and areas under curve (AUC) were used for evaluating the prediction efficacy of metabolic parameters for solid or micropapillary patterns. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the prediction factors of the presence of solid or micropapillary subtypes. Results: Median SUV(max) and TLG in solid and papillary predominant subtypes group (15.07 and 34.98, respectively) were significantly higher than those in other subtypes predominant group (6.03 and 10.16, respectively, P<0.05). ROC curve revealed that SUV(max) and TLG had good efficacy for prediction of solid and micropapillary predominant subtypes [AUC=0.811(95% CI: 0.715~0.907) and 0.725(95% CI: 0.610~0.840), P<0.05]. Median SUV(max) and TLG in lung adenocarcinoma with the solid or micropapillary patterns (11.58 and 22.81, respectively) were significantly higher than those in tumors without solid and micropapillary patterns (4.27 and 6.33, respectively, P<0.05). ROC curve revealed that SUV(max) and TLG had good efficacy for predicting the presence of solid or micropapillary patterns [AUC=0.757(95% CI: 0.679~0.834) and 0.681(95% CI: 0.595~0.768), P<0.005]. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the clinical stage (Stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ), SUV(max) ≥10.27 and TLG≥7.12 were the independent predictive factors of the presence of solid or micropapillary patterns (P<0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative SUV(max) and TLG of lung adenocarcinoma have good prediction efficacy for the presence of solid or micropapillary patterns, especially for the solid and micropapillary predominant subtypes and are independent factors of the presence of solid or micropapillary patterns.
Adenocarcinoma of Lung/diagnostic imaging* ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/metabolism* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Multimodal Imaging/methods* ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Positron-Emission Tomography/methods* ; Prognosis ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Tumor Burden

BACKGROUND: At present, more and more studies predict invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) through three-dimensional features of pulmonary nodules, but few studies have confirmed that three-dimensional features have more advantages in diagnosing IAC than traditional two-dimensional features of pulmonary nodules. This study analyzed the differences of chest computed tomography (CT) features between IAC and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) from three-dimensional and two-dimensional levels, and compared the ability of diagnosing IAC. The non-invasive adenocarcinoma group includes precursor glandular lesions (PGL) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA). METHODS: The clinical data of 1,045 patients with ground glass opacity (GGO) from January to December 2019 were collected. Then the correlation between preoperative CT image characteristics and pathological results were analyzed retrospectively. The independent influencing factors for the identification of IAC were screened out according to two-dimensional and three-dimensional classification by multivariate Logistic regression and the cut-off point for the identification of IAC was found out through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. At last, the ability of diagnosing IAC was evaluated by Yoden index. RESULTS: The diameter of nodule, the diameter of solid component, the diameter of mediastinal window nodule in two-dimensional factors, and the volume of nodule, the volume of solid part and the average CT value in three-dimensional factors were independent risk factors for the diagnosis of IAC. These factors were arranged by Yoden index: solid partial volume (0.601)>nodule volume (0.536)>solid component diameter (0.525)>nodule diameter (0.518)>mediastinal window nodule diameter (0.488)>proportion of solid component volume (0.471)>1-tumor disappearance ratio (TDR) (0.468)>consolidation tumor ratio (CTR) (0.394)>average CT value (0.380). CONCLUSIONS The CT features of three-dimensional are better than two-dimensional in the diagnosis of IAC, and the size of solid components is better than the overall size of nodules.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/diagnostic imaging* ; Adenocarcinoma/pathology*

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of thoracic tumors (5th edition) in May 2021, only six years after the 4th edition of WHO Classification. With the application of low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) as an early screening method for lung tumors in recent years, lung adenocarcinoma has become the main type of disease in many hospital surgical treatments. The WHO classification serves as the authoritative guide for pathological diagnosis, and any slight change in the classification is at the heart of pathologists, clinicians and patients. Adenocarcinoma in situ is a newly added type of adenocarcinoma diagnosis in the 4th edition of the WHO classification, and it is also the focus of clinical treatment and research at home and abroad in recent years. Because its catalog position has been adjusted in the 5th edition of the WHO classification, there has been a huge controversy and discussion among clinicians and patients that "adenocarcinoma in situ was excluded from the category of malignant tumors". This article will briefly explain the origin of the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma in situ, the adjustment of the new classification catalog, and whether adenocarcinoma in situ is benign or malignant.
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Adenocarcinoma in Situ/pathology* ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoplasm Staging

Biopsy, Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Situs Inversus ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the computed tomography findings, clinicopathological features, genetic characteristics and prognosis of in situ adenocarcinoma (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) of the lung. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data including computed tomography (CT) images, histopathological findings, Ki-67 immunostaining, and genetic mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinoma undergoing surgery at our hospital between 2014 and 2019. RESULTS: Of the total of 480 patients with lung adenocarcinoma we reviewed, 73 (15.2%) had AIS (=28) or MIA (=45) tumors. The age of the patients with MIA was significantly younger than that of patients with AIS ( < 0.02). CT scans identified pure ground-glass nodules in 46.4% of AIS cases and in 44.4% of MIA cases. Multiple GGOs were more common in MIA than in AIS cases ( < 0.05), and bluured tumor margins was less frequent in AIS cases ( < 0.05). No significant difference was found in EGFR mutations between MIA and AIS cases. A Ki-67 labeling index (LI) value ≥2.8% did not differentiate MIA from AIS. The follow-up time in MIA group was significantly shorter than that in AIS group, but no recurrence or death occurred. CONCLUSIONS Despite similar surgical outcomes and favorable survival outcomes, the patients with AIS and MIA show differences in terms of age, CT findings, EGFR mutations and Ki-67 LI.
Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; ErbB Receptors ; genetics ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; genetics ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Pneumonic-type lung carcinoma is a special type of lung cancer both clinically and radiologically. Here we present our experience on pneumonic-type lung carcinoma in an attempt to investigate the clinical, radiological and pathological features, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and prognosis of this type of tumor. METHODS: Pathologically confirmed lung cancer with a chest CT characterized by ground glass opacity or consolidation was defined as pneumonic-type lung carcinoma. Cases with advanced pneumonic-type lung carcinoma admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2018 were enrolled. Retrospective analysis of clinical data and survival follow-up of these patients was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 46 cases were enrolled, all of which were adenocarcinoma. Cough (41/46, 89.1%) and expectoration (35/46, 76.1%) were the most prominent symptoms. The most frequent chest CT findings were ground glass attenuation (87.0%), patchy consolidation (84.8%), and multiple ground-glass nodules (84.8%). Multiple cystic changes (40%) and cavitation (13%) were also quite frequent. Ipsilateral and contralateral intrapulmonary metastasis were noted in 95.3% and 84.8% of cases respectively. The median duration from symptom onset to diagnosis was 214 days (95%CI: 129-298). Both surgical lung biopsy and CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy had a diagnostic yield of 100%. Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) combined with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) had a diagnostic yield of 80.9% (17/21). Sputum cytology had a diagnostic yield of 45% (9/20). Twenty-six cases were invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (26/46, 56.5%) and the remainder were unable to identify pathological subtypes due to lack of adequate biopsy sample size. EGFR mutation was detected in 15.8% (6/38) of patients and ALK rearrangement was detected in 3.0% (1/33) of patients. The median overall survival for these patients was 522 d (95%CI: 424-619). In patients without EGFR mutation or ALK rearrangement, chemotherapy significantly improved survival (HR=0.155, P=0.002,2). The median overall survival was 547 d (95%CI: 492-602 d) with chemotherapy and 331 d (95%CI: 22-919) without chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosis of pneumonic-type carcinoma is usually delayed due to clinical and radiological features mimicking pulmonary infection. TBLB combined with BAL has a quite high diagnostic yield. The most frequent histological type is invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. The incidence of EGFR mutation or ALK rearrangement is low in pneumonic-type carcinoma. For patients without cancer driver genes, chemotherapy is recommended to improve overall survival.
Aged ; Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; ErbB Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Localization of multiple small lung nodules is the technical difficulty of minimally invasive operation resection. However, there are few clinical studies on the preoperative localization of multiple small lung nodules. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical value of preoperative computed tomography (CT) guided microcoil localization for multiple small lung nodules compared with single small lung nodule before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 235 patients with preoperative pulmonary nodules microcoil localization was performed. According to whether the nodules were single, they were divided into single nodule group (184 cases) and multiple nodules group (51 cases) (multiple nodules group). The single nodule group was positioned under CT-guided conventional methods. The multiple nodules group were CT guided localized by microcoil in batches according to priority before VATS. The success rate, complications, pathological results and localization operations related data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The success rate of localization in multiple nodule groups was 90.2%, there was no significant difference compared with the single nodule group (90.2% vs 94.6%, P=0.205). The occurrence rate of pneumothorax in multiple nodule group and single nodule group was no statistical difference (21.6% vs 14.1%, P=0.179), however, the operation time in the multiple nodule group was significantly longer than the single nodule group [(30.6±6.6) min vs (19.9±7.4) min, P=0.000]. There were no serious complications such as massive hemoptysis, air embolism or hemothorax. There was no conversion to thoracotomy due to failure of localizing the nodules during operation. Sub-lobectomy was the main method of operation. The majority of postoperative pathologies were non-invasive carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS For multiple small lung pulmonary nodules requiring thoracoscopic surgery, according to certain strategies, preoperative CT-guided localized by microcoil in batches according to priority before VATS is safe and effective, and worthy of promotion.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Preoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; instrumentation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Burden

BACKGROUND: Lung nodules are frequently identified on imaging studies and can represent early lung cancers. We instituted the Lung Nodule Evaluation Team (LNET) to optimize management of these nodules by a lung specialist physician. All lung nodules identified by a radiologist prompted a direct consultation to this service. We report our initial experience with this process. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of patients with lung nodules at a single institution from 2008 to 2015. Since October 2014, lung nodules >3 mm identified on computed tomography (CT) scanning of the chest generate an automatic consult to LNET from the radiology service. Demographic, nodule and follow up data was entered into a surveillance database and summarized. RESULTS: There were 1,873 patients identified in the database. Of these, 900 patients were undergoing active surveillance. Consults increased from 5.5 to 93 per month after the start of the new consult program. Lung nodules were identified on 64% of chest CT scans. Prior to the direct radiology consult the average size of a nodule was 1.7 cm and 0.7 cm after. The overall time from initial nodule imaging to initiating a management plan by a thoracic specialist physician was 3.7 days. CONCLUSIONS Assessment of lung nodules by a specialist physician is important to ensure appropriate long term management and optimize utilization of diagnostic interventions. A direct radiology consult to a specialized team of chest physicians decreased the time in initiating a management plan, identified smaller nodules and may lead to a more judicious use of health care resources in the management of lung nodules.
Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden

BACKGROUND: It has been known that the volume doubling time (VDT) of different lung nodule types is different. At present, there is still a lack of studies about the volume doubling time of lung cancer with different pathological types. The purpose of the study is to explore the factors influencing the progression of the early-stage adenocarcinoma, and provide some reference for the follow-up strategy of lung nodules by retrospective analysis of the image data of 143 early-stage adenocarcinoma. METHODS: 143 cases of the early adenocarcinoma were classified according to the 2015 World Health Organization Classification of Lung Tumors and the Eighth edition of the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification of lung cancer. The volume doubling time was calculated with reference to the revised Schwartz formula. RESULTS: Among the 143 cases of the early adenocarcinoma, 50 cases (34.97%) were in progression. By multivarIate analysis, there were several factors associated with the progression of the early adenocarcinoma: the follow-up time, the dimension of nodule, the pathological type, the nodule type and the pathological stage. The VDT of lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma (LPA) is (594±272) d. The VDT of the invasive adenocarcinoma with lepidic part, but not predominant, is (520±285) d. The VDT of the invasive adenocarcinoma without lepidic part is (371±183) d. CONCLUSIONS About 35% of the early adenocarcinoma is in progress. Whether with the lepidic component is a positive factor to the speed of tumor progression.
Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed