Evaluation of emphysema on thoracic low-dose CTs through attention-based multiple instance deep learning.

In addition to lung cancer, other thoracic abnormalities, such as emphysema, can be visualized within low-dose CT scans that were initially obtained in cancer screening programs, and thus, opportunistic evaluation of these diseases may be highly valuable. However, manual assessment for each scan is tedious and often subjective, thus we have developed an automatic, rapid computer-aided diagnosis system for emphysema using attention-based multiple instance deep learning and 865 LDCTs. In the task of determining if a CT scan presented with emphysema or not, our novel Transfer AMIL approach yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.94 ± 0.04, which was a statistically significant improvement compared to other methods evaluated in our study following the Delong Test with correction for multiple comparisons. Further, from our novel attention weight curves, we found that the upper lung demonstrated a stronger influence in all scan classes, indicating that the model prioritized upper lobe information. Overall, our novel Transfer AMIL method yielded high performance and provided interpretable information by identifying slices that were most influential to the classification decision, thus demonstrating strong potential for clinical implementation.

Impact of Duration of Diagnostic Workup on Prognosis for Early Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Growth assessment for pulmonary nodules is an important diagnostic tool; however, the impact on prognosis due to time delay for follow-up diagnostic scans needs to be considered. METHODS: Using the data between 2003 and 2019 from the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program, a prospective cohort study, we determined the size-specific, 10-year Kaplan-Meier lung cancer (LC) survival rates as surrogates for cure rates. We estimated the change in LC diameter after delays of 90, 180, and 365 days using three representative LC volume doubling times (VDTs) of 60 (fast), 120 (moderate), and 240 (slow). We then estimated the decrease in the LC cure rate resulting from time between computed tomography scans to assess for growth during the diagnostic workup. RESULTS: Using a regression model of the 10-year LC survival rates on LC diameter, the estimated LC cure rate of a 4.0 mm LC with fast (60-d) VDT is 96.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95.2%-96.7%) initially, but it would decrease to 94.3% (95% CI: 93.2%-95.0%), 92.0% (95% CI: 90.5%-93.4%), and 83.6%(95% CI: 80.6%-86.6%) after delays of 90, 180, and 365 days, respectively. A 20.0-mm LC with the same VDTs has a lower LC cure rate of 79.9% (95% CI: 76.2%-83.5%) initially and decreases more rapidly to 71.5% (95% CI: 66.4%-76.7%), 59.8% (95% CI: 52.4%-67.1%), and 17.9% (95% CI: 3.0%-32.8%) after the same delays of 90, 180, and 365 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Time between scans required to measure growth of lung nodules affects prognosis with the effect being greater for fast growing and larger cancers. Quantifying the extent of change in prognosis is required to understand efficiencies of different management protocols.

Using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded (FRAME) to study adaptations in lung cancer screening delivery in the Veterans Health Administration: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer screening is a complex clinical process that includes identification of eligible individuals, shared decision-making, tobacco cessation, and management of screening results. Adaptations to the delivery process for lung cancer screening in situ are understudied and underreported, with the potential loss of important considerations for improved implementation. The Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded (FRAME) allows for a systematic enumeration of adaptations to implementation of evidence-based practices. We applied FRAME to study adaptations in lung cancer screening delivery processes implemented by lung cancer screening programs in a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Enterprise-Wide Initiative. METHODS: We prospectively conducted semi-structured interviews at baseline and 1-year intervals with lung cancer screening program navigators at 10 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) between 2019 and 2021. Using this data, we developed baseline (1st) process maps for each program. In subsequent years (year 1 and year 2), each program navigator reviewed the process maps. Adaptations in screening processes were identified, documented, and mapped to FRAME categories. RESULTS: We conducted a total of 16 interviews across 10 VHA lung cancer screening programs (n=6 in year 1, n=10 in year 2) to collect adaptations. In year 1 (2020), six programs were operational and eligible. Of these, three reported adaptations to their screening process that were planned or in response to COVID-19. In year 2 (2021), all 10 programs were operational and eligible. Programs reported 14 adaptations in year 2. These adaptations were planned and unplanned and often triggered by increased workload; 57% of year 2 adaptations were related to the identification and eligibility of Veterans and 43% were related to follow-up with Veterans for screening results. Throughout the 2 years, adaptations related to data management and patient tracking occurred in 60% of programs to improve the data collection and tracking of Veterans in the screening process. CONCLUSIONS: Using FRAME, we found that adaptations occurred primarily in the areas of patient identification and communication of results due to increased workload. These findings highlight navigator time and resource considerations for sustainability and scalability of existing and future lung cancer screening programs as well as potential areas for future intervention.

Using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded (FRAME) to study lung cancer screening adaptations in the Veterans Health Administration.

Background: Lung cancer screening includes identification of eligible individuals, shared decision-making inclusive of tobacco cessation, and management of screening results. Adaptations to the implemented processes for lung cancer screening in situ are understudied and underreported, with potential loss of important considerations for improved implementation. The Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded (FRAME) allows for systematic enumeration of adaptations to implementations of evidence-based practices. We used FRAME to study adaptations in lung cancer screening processes that were implemented as part of a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Enterprise-Wide Initiative. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews at baseline and 1-year intervals with lung cancer screening program navigators at 10 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) between 2019-2021. Using this data, we developed baseline (1st) process maps for each program. In subsequent years (year 1 and year 2), each program navigator reviewed the process maps. Adaptations in screening processes were identified, recorded and mapped to FRAME categories. Results: A total of 14 program navigators across 10 VHA lung cancer screening programs participated in 20 interviews. In year 1 (2019-2020), seven programs were operational and of these, three reported adaptations to their screening process that were either planned and in response to COVID-19. In year 2 (2020-2021), all 10 programs were operational. Programs reported 14 adaptations in year 2. These adaptations were both planned and unplanned and often triggered by increased workload; 57% of year 2 adaptations were related to identification and eligibility of Veterans and 43% were related to follow-up with Veterans for screening results. Throughout the 2 years, adaptations related to data management and patient tracking occurred in 6 of 10 programs to improve the data collection and tracking of Veterans in the screening process. Conclusions: Using FRAME, we found that adaptations occurred throughout the lung cancer screening process but primarily in the areas of patient identification and communication of results. These findings highlight considerations for lung cancer screening implementation and potential areas for future intervention.

Measuring the margin distance in pulmonary wedge resection.

BACKGROUND: Margin distance contributes to survival and recurrence during wedge resections for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. The Initiative for Early Lung Cancer Research on Treatment sought to standardize a surgeon-measured margin intraoperatively. METHODS: Lung cancer patients who underwent wedge resection were reviewed. Margins were measured by the surgeon twice as per a standardized protocol. Intraobserver variability as well as surgeon-pathologist variability were compared. RESULTS: Forty-five patients underwent wedge resection. Same-surgeon measurement analysis indicated good reliability with a small mean difference and narrow limit of agreement for the two measures. The median surgeon-measured margin was 18.0 mm, median pathologist-measured margin was 16.0 mm and the median difference between the surgeon-pathologist margin was -1.0 mm, ranging from -18.0 to 12.0 mm. Bland-Altman analysis for margin measurements demonstrated a mean difference of 0.65 mm. The limit of agreement for the two approaches were wide, with the difference lying between -16.25 and 14.96 mm. CONCLUSIONS: A novel protocol of surgeon-measured margin was evaluated and compared with pathologist-measured margin. High intraobserver agreement for repeat surgeon measurements yet low-to-moderate correlation or directionality between surgeon and pathologic measurements were found. DISCUSSION: A standardized protocol may reduce variability in pathologic assessment. These findings have critical implications considering the impact of margin distance on outcomes.

Comparison of lung cancer aggressiveness in patients who never smoked compared to those who smoked.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether radiographic measures of tumor aggressiveness differ by smoking status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC) ≤ 30 mm in maximum diameter, without clinical evidence of metastasis who had both pre-treatment PET scans and two CT scans at least 90 days apart in a prospective cohort, the Initiative for Early Lung Cancer Research on Treatment(IELCART) at Mount Sinai between 2016 and 2020 were identified. Comparison of two measures of tumor aggressiveness, positron emission tomography(PET) SUVmax and tumor volume doubling time(VDT) by smoking status was performed. RESULTS: Of 417 patients identified, 158 patients had pre-treatment PET scans and at least two CT scans available. The two measures of tumor aggressiveness, SUVmax and VDT values were significantly different between patients who had never smoked and those who smoked: patients who never smoked had lower median SUVmax[2.5(IQR: 1.1-4.8) vs. 4.2(IQR:2.1-9.2),p = 0.002] and longer median VDT[(372.6 days vs. 225.6 days,p = 0.001)] compared to those who smoked. Using multivariable analyses, when adjusting for age and sex alone, SUVmax(p = 0.004) and VDT(p = 0.0001) remained significantly different by smoking status. The final multivariable analysis, adjusted for all three co-variates(sex, age and tumor histology) showed no significant difference in SUVmax and VDT by smoking status [SUVmax(p = 0.25) and VDT(p = 0.06)]. CONCLUSION: Smoking history does not influence VDT or PET SUVmax measures of lung cancer aggressiveness.

Bronchiectasis in Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer.

Background Bronchiectasis is associated with loss of lung function, substantial use of health care resources, and increased morbidity and mortality in people with cardiopulmonary diseases. Purpose To assess the frequency and severity of bronchiectasis and related clinical findings of participants in a low-dose CT (LDCT) screening program. Materials and Methods The Early Lung and Cardiac Action Program (ELCAP) bronchiectasis score (range, 0-42; higher values indicate more severe bronchiectasis) was developed to facilitate bronchiectasis assessment. This quantitative scoring system screened participants based on accumulated knowledge and improved CT imaging capabilities. Secondary review of LDCT studies from smokers aged 40-90 years was performed when they were initially enrolled in the prospective Mount Sinai ELCAP screening study between 2010 and 2019. Medical records were reviewed to identify associated respiratory symptoms and acute respiratory events during the 2 years after LDCT. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with bronchiectasis. Results LDCT studies of 2191 screening participants (mean age, 65 years ± 9; 1140 [52%] women) were obtained, and bronchiectasis was identified in 504 (23%) participants. Median ELCAP bronchiectasis score was 12 (interquartile range, 9-16). Bronchiectasis was most common in the lower lobes for all participants, and lower lobe prevalence was greater with higher ELCAP score (eg, 91% prevalence with an ELCAP score of 16-42). In the fourth quartile, however, midlung involvement was higher compared with lower lung involvement (128 of 131 participants [98%] vs 122 of 131 participants [93%]). Bronchiectasis was more frequent with greater age (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0 per decade; 95% CI: 1.7, 2.4); being a former smoker (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.73); and having self-reported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.88), an elevated hemidiaphragm (OR = 4; 95% CI: 2, 11), or consolidation (OR = 5; 95% CI: 3, 11). It was less frequent in overweight (OR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5, 0.9) or obese (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4, 0.8) participants. Two years after baseline LDCT, respiratory symptoms, acute respiratory events, and respiratory events that required hospitalization were more frequent with increasing severity of the ELCAP bronchiectasis score (P < .005 for all trends). Conclusion Prevalence of bronchiectasis in smokers undergoing low-dose CT screening was high, and respiratory symptoms and acute events were more frequent with increasing severity of the Early Lung and Cardiac Action Program Bronchiectasis score. © RSNA, 2022 See also the editorial by Verschakelen in this issue.

Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients' Perceptions of Presurgical Discussions.

Background: Patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have high survival rates, but patients often say they did not anticipate the effect of the surgery on their postsurgical quality of life (QoL). This study adds to the literature regarding patient and surgeon interactions and highlights the areas where the current approach is not providing good communication. Design: Since its start in 2016, the Initiative for Early Lung Cancer Research on Treatment (IELCART), a prospective cohort study, has enrolled 543 patients who underwent surgery for stage I NSCLC within the Mount Sinai Health System. Presurgical patient and surgeon surveys were available for 314 patients, postsurgical surveys for 420, and both pre- and postsurgical surveys for 285. Results: Of patients with presurgical surveys, 31.2% said that their surgeon recommended multiple types of treatment. Of patients with postsurgical surveys, 85.0% felt very well prepared and 11.4% moderately well prepared for their postsurgical recovery. The median Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung Cancer score and social support score of the patients who felt very well prepared was significantly higher than those moderately or not well prepared (24.0 v. 22.0, P < 0.001) and (5.0 [interquartile range: 4.7-5.0] v. 5.0 [IQR: 4.2-5.0], p = 0.015). Conclusions: This study provides insight into the areas where surgeons are communicating well with their patients as well as the areas where patients still feel uninformed. Most surgeons feel that they prepare their patients well or very well for surgical recovery, whereas some patients still feel that their surgeons did not prepare them well for postsurgical recovery. Surgeons may want to spend additional time emphasizing postsurgical recovery and QoL with their patients or provide their patients with additional avenues to get their questions and concerns addressed. Highlights: Pretreatment discussions could help surgeons understand patient priorities and patients understand the anticipated outcomes for their surgeries.There is an association between feeling prepared for surgery and higher quality of life and social support scores after adjustment for confounders.Despite these pretreatment discussions, patients still feel that they are not well prepared about what to expect during their postsurgical recovery.

Association of Rurality With Annual Repeat Lung Cancer Screening in the Veterans Health Administration.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer causes the largest number of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Lung cancer incidence rates, mortality rates, and rates of advanced stage disease are higher among those who live in rural areas. Known disparities in lung cancer outcomes between rural and nonrural populations may be in part because of barriers faced by rural populations. The authors tested the hypothesis that among Veterans who receive initial lung cancer screening, rural Veterans would be less likely to complete annual repeat screening than nonrural Veterans. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 10 Veterans Affairs medical centers from 2015 to 2019. Rural and nonrural Veterans undergoing lung cancer screening were identified. Rural status was defined using the rural-urban commuting area codes. The primary outcome was annual repeat lung cancer screening in the 9- to 15-month window (primary analysis) and 31-day to 18-month window (sensitivity analysis) after the first documented lung cancer screening. To examine rurality as a predictor of annual repeat lung cancer screening, multivariable logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: In the final analytic sample of 11,402 Veterans, annual repeat lung cancer screening occurred in 27.7% of rural Veterans (641 of 2,316) and 31.8% of nonrural Veterans (2,891 of 9,086) (adjusted odds ratio: 0.86; 95% confidence interval: 0.73-1.03). Similar results were seen in the sensitivity analysis, with 41.6% of rural Veterans (963 of 2,316) versus 45.2% of nonrural Veterans (4,110 of 9,086) (adjusted odds ratio: 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.73-1.04) having annual repeat screening in the expanded 31-day to 18-month window. CONCLUSIONS: Among a national cohort of Veterans, rural residence was associated with numerically lower odds of annual repeat lung cancer screening than nonrural residence. Continued, intentional outreach efforts to increase annual repeat lung cancer screening among rural Veterans may offer an opportunity to decrease deaths from lung cancer.

Characterization of Newly Detected Costal Pleura-attached Noncalcified Nodules at Annual Low-Dose CT Screenings.

Background Solid costal pleura-attached noncalcified nodules (CP-NCNs) less than 10.0 mm with lentiform, oval, or semicircular (LOS) or triangular shapes and smooth margins on baseline low-dose CT scans from the Mount Sinai Early Lung and Cardiac Action Program (MS-ELCAP) were reviewed, and it was determined that they can be followed up at the first annual screening rather than having a shorter-term work-up. Purpose To determine whether the same criteria could be used for solid CP-NCNs newly identified at annual screening examinations. Materials and Methods With use of the same MS-ELCAP database, all new solid CP-NCNs measuring 30.0 mm or less were identified at 4425 annual screening examinations between 2010 and 2019. In addition, to ensure that no malignant CP-NCNs met the criteria, all solid malignant CP-NCNs of 30.0 mm or less in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program, or I-ELCAP, database of 111 102 annual screening examinations from the 76 participating institutions between 1992 and 2019 were identified; Mount Sinai is one of these institutions. All identified solid CP-NCNs were reviewed-with the radiologists blinded to diagnosis-for shape (triangular, LOS, polygonal, round, or irregular), margin (smooth or nonsmooth), pleural attachment (broad or narrow), and the presence of emphysema and/or fibrosis within 10.0 mm of each CP-NCN. Intra- and interreader readings were performed, and agreements were determined by using the B-statistic. Results Of the 76 new solid CP-NCNs, 21 were lung cancers. Benign CP-NCNs were smaller than malignant ones (median diameter, 4.2 mm vs 11 mm; P < .001), had a different shape distributions, more frequently had smooth margins (67% vs 14%; P < .001), and less frequently had emphysema (38% vs 81%; P = .003) or fibrosis (3.6% vs 19%; P = .045) within a 10.0 mm radius. All 22 solid CP-NCNs less than 10.0 mm in average diameter with triangular or LOS shapes and smooth margins were benign, and none of the 21 solid malignant CP-NCNs had these characteristics. Intra- and interobserver agreement for triangular or LOS-shaped CP-NCNs with smooth margins was almost perfect (0.77 and 0.69, respectively). Conclusion The same follow-up recommendation developed for baseline costal pleura-attached noncalcified nodules (CP-NCNs) can be used for CP-NCNs newly identified at annual screening rounds. © RSNA, 2021.

Pre-surgical assessment of mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients having ≥ 30 mm non-small-cell lung cancers.

INTRODUCTION: Computed tomography (CT) and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission-tomography (FDG-PET) measurements of mediastinal lymph nodes (MLNs) of patients with non-small-cell-lung-cancers (NSCLCs) ≤ 30 mm in maximum diameter are recommended for pre-surgical prediction of MLN metastases. METHODS: We reviewed all patients at Mount Sinai Health System enrolled in the Initiative for Early Lung Cancer Research on Treatment (IELCART), prospective cohort between 2016 and 2020, who had pre-surgical FDG-PET and underwent surgery with MLN resection and/or pre-operative endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) for a first primary NSCLC ≤ 30 mm in maximum diameter on pre-surgical CT. RESULTS: Among 470 patients, none with part-solid (n = 63) or nonsolid (n = 23) NSCLCs had MLN metastases. Solid NSCLCs were identified in 384 patients, none in typical carcinoid (n = 48) or NSCLC ≤ 10 mm in maximum diameter (n = 47, including 8 typical carcinoids) had MLN metastases. Among the remaining 297 patients with solid NSCLCs 10.1-30.0 mm, 7 (2.4%) had MLN metastases. Area-under-the-curve (AUC) for predicting MLN metastases in solid NSCLCs 10.1-30.0 mm, using the CT maximum short-axis MLN diameter was 0.62 (95% CI:0.44-0.81, p = 0.18) and using the highest SUVmax of any MLN, AUC was 0.58 (95% CI:0.39-0.78,p = 0.41). Neither AUCs were significantly different from chance alone. Optimal cutoff for prediction of MLN metastases was ≥ 18.9 mm for CT maximum short-axis diameter [sensitivity 14.3% (95%CI:0.0%-57.9%); specificity 100.0% (95%CI:98.9%-100.0%)] and for highest SUVmax was ≥ 11.7 [sensitivity 14.3% (95%CI:0.0%-57.9%) and specificity 99.7% (95%CI:98.3%-100.0%)]. CONCLUSIONS: CT and SUVmax had low sensitivity but high specificity for predicting MLN metastases in solid NSCLCs 10.1-30.0 mm. Clinical Stage IA NSCLCs ≤ 30 mm should be based on CT maximum tumor diameter and MLN maximum short-axis diameter ≤ 20 mm.

Lung Cancer Screening Considerations During Respiratory Infection Outbreaks, Epidemics or Pandemics: An International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Early Detection and Screening Committee Report.

After the results of two large, randomized trials, the global implementation of lung cancer screening is of utmost importance. However, coronavirus disease 2019 infections occurring at heightened levels during the current global pandemic and also other respiratory infections can influence scan interpretation and screening safety and uptake. Several respiratory infections can lead to lesions that mimic malignant nodules and other imaging changes suggesting malignancy, leading to an increased level of follow-up procedures or even invasive diagnostic procedures. In periods of increased rates of respiratory infections from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and others, there is also a risk of transmission of these infections to the health care providers, the screenees, and patients. This became evident with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic that led to a temporary global stoppage of lung cancer and other cancer screening programs. Data on the optimal management of these situations are not available. The pandemic is still ongoing and further periods of increased respiratory infections will come, in which practical guidance would be helpful. The aims of this report were: (1) to summarize the data available for possible false-positive results owing to respiratory infections; (2) to evaluate the safety concerns for screening during times of increased respiratory infections, especially during a regional outbreak or an epidemic or pandemic event; (3) to provide guidance on these situations; and (4) to stimulate research and discussions about these scenarios.

Lung Cancer and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Identifying Important Knowledge Gaps for Investigation.

Patients with lung cancer are especially vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a greater than sevenfold higher rate of becoming infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19, a greater than threefold higher hospitalization rate with high complication rates, and an estimated case fatality rate of more than 30%. The reasons for the increased vulnerability are not known. In addition, beyond the direct impact of the pandemic on morbidity and mortality among patients with lung cancer, COVID-19, with its disruption of patient care, has also resulted in substantial impact on lung cancer screening and treatment/management.COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in people with lung cancer. On the basis of the available data, patients with lung cancer should continue their course of cancer treatment and get vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For unknown reasons, some patients with lung cancer mount poor antibody responses to vaccination. Thus, boosting vaccination seems urgently indicated in this subgroup of vulnerable patients with lung cancer. Nevertheless, many unanswered questions regarding vaccination in this population remain, including the magnitude, quality, and duration of antibody response and the role of innate and acquired cellular immunities for clinical protection. Additional important knowledge gaps also remain, including the following: how can we best protect patients with lung cancer from developing COVID-19, including managing care in patient with lung cancer and the home environment of patients with lung cancer; are there clinical/treatment demographics and tumor molecular demographics that affect severity of COVID-19 disease in patients with lung cancer; does anticancer treatment affect antibody production and protection; does SARS-CoV-2 infection affect the development/progression of lung cancer; and are special measures and vaccine strategies needed for patients with lung cancer as viral variants of concern emerge.

Effects of Smoking, Obesity, and Pulmonary Function on Home Oxygen Use after Curative Lung Cancer Surgery.

Rationale: Lung cancer surgical morbidity has been decreasing, increasing attention to quality-of-life measures. A chronic sequela of lung cancer surgery is the use of postoperative oxygen at home after discharge. Prospective studies are needed to identify risk predictors for home oxygen (HO2) use after curative lung cancer surgery. Objectives: To prospectively assess risk factors for postoperative oxygen use and postsurgical morbidity in patients undergoing curative lung cancer surgery. We hypothesized that obesity, poor preoperative pulmonary function, and smoking status would contribute to the risk of postoperative oxygen use. Methods: This study included patients undergoing surgery for a first primary non-small cell lung cancer at Mount Sinai from 2016 to 2020. Univariate, multivariable logistic regression analyses and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed. Results: Of the 433 patients with diagnosed pathologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer, 63 (14.5%) were discharged with HO2. By using multivariable analyses, we found that the body mass index (BMI) (OR for a BMI of 25-30 kg/m2, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.6-11.2; OR for a BMI ⩾30 kg/m2, 6.1; 95% CI, 2.4-17.5) and the preoperative diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DlCO) (OR for a DlCO of <40%, 24.9; 95% CI, 3.6-234.1; OR for a DlCO of 40-59%, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3-7.2) were significant independent risk factors associated with the risk of HO2 use after adjusting for other covariates. Although current smoking significantly increased the risk in the univariate analysis, it was no longer significant in the multivariable model. Conclusions: Obesity and the DlCO were significant as risk factors for oxygen use at home after discharge. These findings allow for identification of patients at risk of being discharged with HO2 after lung resection surgery.

Dose-response relationship between World Trade Center dust exposure and hepatic steatosis.

BACKGROUND: The World Trade Center (WTC) attack exposed thousands of workers to toxic chemicals that have been linked to liver diseases and cancers. This study examined the relationship between the intensity of WTC dust exposure and the risk of hepatic steatosis in the WTC General Responders Cohort (GRC). METHODS: All low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest performed on the WTC GRC between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2018, collected as part of the World Trade Center Health Program, were reviewed. WTC dust exposure was categorized into five groups based on WTC arrival time. CT liver density was estimated using an automated algorithm, statistics-based liver density estimation from imaging. The relationship between the intensity of WTC dust exposure and the risk of hepatic steatosis was examined using univariate and multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 1788 WTC responders, 258 (14.4%) had liver attenuation less than 40 Hounsfield units (HU < 40) on their earliest CT. Median time after September 11, 2001 and the earliest available CT was 11.3 years (interquartile range: 8.0-14.9 years). Prevalence of liver attenuation less than 40 HU was 17.0% for arrivals on September 11, 2001, 16.0% for arrivals on (September 12, 2001 or September 13, 2001), 10.9% for arrivals on September 14-30, 2001, and 9.0% for arrivals on January 10, 2001 or later (p = 0.0015). A statistically significant trend of increasing liver steatosis was observed with earlier arrival times (p < 0.0001). WTC arrival time remained a significant independent factor for decreased liver attenuation after controlling for other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Early arrival at the WTC site was significantly associated with increasing hepatic steatosis.

The 100 most cited articles on lung cancer screening: a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: The number of citations of an article reflects its impact on the scientific community. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the 100 most cited articles on lung cancer screening. METHODS: The 100 most cited articles on lung cancer screening published in all scientific journals were identified using the Web of Science database. Relevant data, including the number of citations, publication year, publishing journal and impact factor (IF), authorship and country of origin, article type and study design, screening modality, and main topic, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The 100 most cited articles were all English and published between 1973 and 2017, with 81 published after 2000. The mean number of citations was 292.90 (range 100-3,910). Sixty articles originated from the United States. These articles were published in 32 journals; there was a statistically significant positive correlation between journal IF and the number of citations (r=0.238, P=0.018). Seventy-nine articles were original research of which 37.9% were about results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The most common screening modalities in these articles were low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) (n=78), followed by chest X-ray radiography (CXR) and sputum cytology (n=11). The most common topic in these articles was screening test effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents a detailed list and analysis of the 100 most cited articles published about lung cancer screening which provides insight into the historical developments and key contributions in this field.

Early prediction of severity in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) using quantitative CT imaging.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the extent of COVID-19 pneumonia on CT scans using quantitative CT imaging obtained early in the illness can predict its future severity. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center study on confirmed COVID-19 patients between January 18, 2020 and March 5, 2020. A quantitative AI algorithm was used to evaluate each patient's CT scan to determine the proportion of the lungs with pneumonia (VR) and the rate of change (RAR) in VR from scan to scan. Patients were classified as being in the severe or non-severe group based on their final symptoms. Penalized B-splines regression modeling was used to examine the relationship between mean VR and days from onset of symptoms in the two groups, with 95% and 99% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Median VR max was 18.6% (IQR 9.1-32.7%) in 21 patients in the severe group, significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than in the 53 patients in non-severe group (1.8% (IQR 0.4-5.7%)). RAR was increasing with a median RAR of 2.1% (IQR 0.4-5.5%) in severe and 0.4% (IQR 0.1-0.9%) in non-severe group, which was significantly different (P < 0.0001). Penalized B-spline analyses showed positive relationships between VR and days from onset of symptom. The 95% confidence limits of the predicted means for the two groups diverged 5 days after the onset of initial symptoms with a threshold of 11.9%. CONCLUSION: Five days after the initial onset of symptoms, CT could predict the patients who later developed severe symptoms with 95% confidence.