Project description:AimLung metastases are a negative prognostic factor in Ewing sarcoma, however, the incidence and significance of sub-centimetre pulmonary nodules at diagnosis is unclear. The aims of this study were to (1): determine the incidence of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs) in patients diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma (2); establish the impact of IPNs on overall and metastasis-free survival and (3) identify patient, oncological and radiological factors that correlate with poorer prognosis in patients that present with IPNs on their staging chest CT.Materials & methodsBetween 2008 and 2016, 173 patients with a first presentation of Ewing sarcoma of bone were retrospectively identified from an institutional database. Staging and follow-up chest CTs for all patients with IPN were reviewed by a senior radiologist. Clinical and radiologic course were examined to determine overall- and metastasis-free survival for IPN patients and to identify demographic, oncological or nodule-specific features that predict which IPN represent true lung metastases.ResultsFollowing radiologic re-review, IPN were found in 8.7% of patients. Overall survival for IPN patients was comparable to those with a normal staging chest CT (2-year overall survival of 73.3% [95% CI 43.6-89] and 89.4% [95% CI 81.6-94], respectively; p = 0.34) and was significantly better than for patients with clear metastases (46.0% [95% CI 31.9-59]; p < 0.0001). Similarly, there was no difference in metastasis-free survival between 'No Metastases' and 'IPN' patients (p = 0.16). Lung metastases developed in 40% of IPN patients at a median 9.6 months. Reduction of nodule size on neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with worse overall survival in IPN patients (p = 0.0084).ConclusionIPN are not uncommon in patients diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. In this study, we were unable to detect a difference in overall- or metastasis-free survival between patients with IPN at diagnosis and patients with normal staging chest CTs.
Project description:BackgroundSarcomas are rare, aggressive cancers which frequently metastasise to the lungs. Following diagnosis, patients typically undergo staging by means of a CT scan of their chest. This often identifies indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs), but the significance of these in high-grade soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is unclear. Identifying whether these are benign or malignant is important for clinical decision making. This study analyses the clinical relevance of IPNs in high-grade STS.MethodsAll patients treated at our centre for high-grade soft tissue sarcoma between 2010 and 2020 were identified from a prospective database. CT scans and their reports were reviewed, and survival data were collected from patient records.Results389 suitable patients were identified; 34.4% had IPNs on their CT staging scan and 20.1% progressed into lung metastases. Progression was more likely with IPNs ≥ 5 mm in diameter (p = 0.006), multiple IPNs (p = 0.013) or bilateral IPNs (p = 0.022), as well as in patients with primaries ≥ 5 cm (p = 0.014), grade 3 primaries (p = 0.009) or primaries arising deep to the fascia (p = 0.041). The median time to progression was 143 days. IPNs at diagnosis were associated with an increased risk of developing lung metastases and decreased OS in patients with grade 3 STS (p = 0.0019 and p = 0.0016, respectively); this was not observed in grade 2 patients.ConclusionsIPNs at diagnosis are associated with significantly worse OS in patients with grade 3 STS. It is crucial to consider the primary tumour as well as the IPNs when considering the risk of progression. Surveillance CT scans should be carried out within 6 months.
Project description:BackgroundIndeterminate pulmonary nodules in patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma present a challenge for accurate staging and prognosis. The aim of this study was to explore the significance of this finding.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 120 patients with osteosarcoma was performed in the North East of England. Chest computed tomographies (CTs) at presentation were reviewed and the incidence of 'indeterminate' nodules recorded. Follow-up scans were reviewed and survival as well as prognostic features were analysed.Results25% of our cohort presented with indeterminate nodules. Of these, 33% were subsequently confirmed as metastases, the majority within a year. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with indeterminate nodules fared better than those with frank metastatic disease, and similar to those who presented with a normal chest CT. We found no radiographic features that predicted survival.ConclusionsIndeterminate nodules remain a clinical and diagnostic dilemma. Close monitoring of patients is advised during the first year from presentation, and there is potential for indeterminate nodules to develop into frank metastases later than five years from presentation.
Project description:We identified candidate protein biomarkers to distinguish lung adenocarcinomas from benign nodules. We employed shotgun proteomics using a multidimensional peptide separation approach coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to characterize proteomes of a collection of 34 benign lung nodules. The benign lung nodule inventories were compared to inventories from early stage lung adenocarcinomas, from 24 patients with non-adjuvant treatment following the resection, and to inventories from normal tissue collected from 10 patients as bronchial and alveolar epithelium to identify biomarkers.We developed PRM assays to quantify a subset of 43 candidate biomarker proteins via 170 tryptic peptides in a single LC-PRM-MS run using a validation cohort of 20 benign nodules, 20 adenocarcinoma, and 20 normal lung tissues.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Following fine needle aspiration, 15-30% of thyroid nodules are not clearly benign or malignant. These cytologically indeterminate nodules are often referred for diagnostic surgery, though most prove benign. A novel diagnostic test measuring the expression of 167 genes has shown promise in improving pre-operative risk assessment. We evaluated this test in a prospective, multicenter study. METHODS: Over 19 months, we performed a prospective study at 49 clinical sites enrolling 3,789 patients and collecting 4,812 samples from thyroid nodules >1cm requiring evaluation. We obtained 577 cytologically indeterminate aspirates with corresponding histopathology of excised lesions on 413. Central blinded histopathologic review served as the reference (“gold”) standard. After applying inclusion criteria, gene expression classifier results were obtained for 265 indeterminate nodules used in this analysis, and performance was calculated. RESULTS: 85 of 265 indeterminate nodules were malignant. The gene expression classifier correctly identified 78 of 85 as ‘suspicious’ (92% sensitivity, [84%-97%] 95% CI). Specificity was 52%, [44%-59%]. The negative predictive value was 95%, 94%, and 85%, respectively, for aspirates with AUS/FLUS, FN/SFN, or ‘suspicious’ cytology. Analysis of 7 false negative cases revealed 6 with a paucity of thyroid follicular cells, suggesting that insufficient sampling of the nodule had occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Though individualized clinical care is recommended, these data support consideration of a conservative approach for most patients with indeterminate FNA cytology and benign gene expression classifier results.
Project description:Nowadays, small pulmonary nodules are easily detectable in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) because of highly improved computed tomography (CT) technologies. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and significance of the pulmonary nodules detected by CT in high-grade STS patients. 124 patients with high-grade STS were retrospectively reviewed. There were 72 males (57%) and 52 females (43%). Patients' average age was 61 years (median (quartiles) 66 years (48-75), range 8-94 years). Pulmonary nodules were detected in 49 (39.5%) of 124 patients by CT scanning at first presentation. Of 49 patients with nodules at first presentation, 34 (69.4%) had benign lesions, and 13 (26.5%) had metastatic nodules. One patient (2%) had primary lung cancer and the remaining one with one nodule could not be definitively diagnosed due to a short follow-up time. 30 patients (24.1%) of 124 patients developed pulmonary nodules during their clinical progression. Seven (23.3%) had benign lesions, whereas 21 (70%) had metastatic lesions. Primary lung cancer was detected in two patients (6.7%). The size and timing of detection of a pulmonary nodule significantly affected the final clinical diagnosisby multivariate analysis. We conclude that pulmonary nodules can be detected highly frequently in patients with high-grade STSs because of improved CT technologies. Careful follow-up is needed if nodules are detected after initial treatment or during the clinical course of the disease.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Following fine needle aspiration, 15-30% of thyroid nodules are not clearly benign or malignant. These cytologically indeterminate nodules are often referred for diagnostic surgery, though most prove benign. A novel diagnostic test measuring the expression of 167 genes has shown promise in improving pre-operative risk assessment. We evaluated this test in a prospective, multicenter study. METHODS: Over 19 months, we performed a prospective study at 49 clinical sites enrolling 3,789 patients and collecting 4,812 samples from thyroid nodules >1cm requiring evaluation. We obtained 577 cytologically indeterminate aspirates with corresponding histopathology of excised lesions on 413. Central blinded histopathologic review served as the reference (“gold”) standard. After applying inclusion criteria, gene expression classifier results were obtained for 265 indeterminate nodules used in this analysis, and performance was calculated. RESULTS: 85 of 265 indeterminate nodules were malignant. The gene expression classifier correctly identified 78 of 85 as ‘suspicious’ (92% sensitivity, [84%-97%] 95% CI). Specificity was 52%, [44%-59%]. The negative predictive value was 95%, 94%, and 85%, respectively, for aspirates with AUS/FLUS, FN/SFN, or ‘suspicious’ cytology. Analysis of 7 false negative cases revealed 6 with a paucity of thyroid follicular cells, suggesting that insufficient sampling of the nodule had occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Though individualized clinical care is recommended, these data support consideration of a conservative approach for most patients with indeterminate FNA cytology and benign gene expression classifier results. 265 cytologically indetermine samples, 47 cytologically benign and 55 cytologically malignant samples
Project description:PURPOSE:Diagnosis and resection of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs) is a growing challenge with increased utilization of chest computed tomography. Photoacoustic (PA) -guided surgical resection with local injection of indocyanine green (ICG) may have utility for IPNs that are suspicious for lung cancer. This preclinical study explores the potential of PA imaging (PAI) to detect ICG-labeled tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS:ICG uptake by H460 lung cancer cells was evaluated in vitro. A phantom study was performed to analyze PA signal intensity according to ICG concentration and tissue thickness/depth using chicken breast. PA signals were measured up to 48 hours after injection of ICG (mixed with 5% agar) into healthy subcutaneous tissue, subcutaneous H460 tumors and right healthy lung in nude mice. RESULTS:Intracellular ICG fluorescence was detected in H460 cells co-incubated with ICG in vitro. The concentration dependence of the PA signal was logarithmic, and PA signal decline was exponential with increasing tissue depth. The PA signal of 2 mg/mL ICG was still detectable at a depth of 22 mm in chicken breast. The PA signal from ICG mixed with agar was detectable 48 hours post injection into subcutaneous tissue and subcutaneous H460 tumors in nude mice. Similar features of PA signals from ICG-agar in mice lung were obtained. CONCLUSION:The results from this preclinical study suggests that PAI of injected ICG-agar may be beneficial for identifying deeply located tumors. These features may be valuable for IPNs.
Project description:RationalePulmonologists frequently encounter indeterminate pulmonary nodules in practice, but it is unclear what clinical factors they rely on to guide the diagnostic evaluation.ObjectivesTo assess the current approach to the management of indeterminate pulmonary nodules and to determine the extent to which the addition of a hypothetical diagnostic blood test will influence clinical decision making.MethodsSelected pulmonologists practicing in the United States were invited to participate in a conjoint exercise based on 20 randomly generated cases of varying age, smoking history, and nodule size. Some cases included the result of a hypothetical blood test. Each respondent chose from among three diagnostic options for a patient: noninvasive monitoring (i.e., serial CT or positron emission tomography scan), a minor procedure (i.e., biopsy or bronchoscopy), or a major procedure (i.e., video-assisted thorascopic surgery or thoracotomy). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the impact of the three risk factors and the diagnostic blood test on decision making.Measurements and main resultsFour hundred nineteen physicians participated (response rate, 10%). One hundred fifty-three physician surveys met predetermined criteria and were analyzed (4% of all invitees). A diagnostic procedure was recommended for 23% of 6-mm nodules, versus 54, 66, 77, and 84% of nodules 10, 14, 18, and 22 mm, respectively (P?<?0.001). Older age limited recommendations for invasive testing: 54% of 80-year-olds versus 61, 64, 63, and 61% of patients 71, 62, 53, and 44 years of age, respectively (P?<?0.001). In multivariate analyses, nodule size, smoking history, age, and the blood test each influenced decision making (P?<?0.001).ConclusionsThe pulmonologists who participated in this survey were more likely to proceed with invasive testing, instead of observation or additional imaging, as the size of the nodule increased. The use of a hypothetical blood test resulted in significant alterations in the decision to pursue invasive testing.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To retrospectively evaluate the value of computerized 3D texture analysis for differentiating pulmonary metastases from non-metastatic lesions in pediatric patients with osteosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. The study comprised 42 pathologically confirmed pulmonary nodules in 16 children with osteosarcoma who had undergone preoperative computed tomography between January 2009 and December 2014. Texture analysis was performed using an in-house program. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors for differentiating metastatic nodules from non-metastases. A subgroup analysis was performed to identify differentiating parameters in small non-calcified pulmonary nodules. The receiver operator characteristic curve was created to evaluate the discriminating performance of the established model. RESULTS:There were 24 metastatic and 18 non-metastatic lesions. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher mean attenuation (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.014, P = 0.003) and larger effective diameter (OR, 1.745, P = 0.012) were significant differentiators. The analysis with small non-calcified pulmonary nodules (7 metastases and 18 non-metastases) revealed significant inter-group differences in various parameters. Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher mean attenuation (OR, 1.007, P = 0.008) was a significant predictor of non-calcified pulmonary metastases. The established logistic regression model of subgroups showed excellent discriminating performance in the ROC analysis (area under the curve, 0.865). CONCLUSION:Pulmonary metastases from osteosarcoma could be differentiated from non-metastases by using computerized texture analysis. Higher mean attenuation and larger diameter were significant predictors for pulmonary metastases, while higher mean attenuation was a significant predictor for small non-calcified pulmonary metastases.