Technical Report No. 17-86
Problems in radiographic detection and diagnosis of lung cancer
Hayabuchi N, Russell WJ, Murakami J, Antoku SEditor’s note: A publication based on this report was published in Acta Radiol 30:163-7, 1989.
Summary
Problems in the radiographic detection and diagnosis of primary lung cancers were retrospectively analyzes for 64 patients who had radiographically demonstrable tumors. All of them were among 107 histologically confirmed Adult Health Study lung cancer patients who had consecutive biennial chest radiography from 1958 to 1978.
When first radiographically imaged, 17 cancers were not diagnosed; however, 11 of these 17 were actually equivocal and detectable only by retrospective review of serial films. Originally, eight lesions were misinterpreted as inflammatory processes, seven of which were diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis.
To avoid overlooking small lesions, the importance of comparing serial radiographs, and the special need for posteroanterior stereoscopic and lateral radiographic projections of the chest for members of such a high risk population are underscored. Radiologically, any nodule or apparently fibrotic density, even though small and growing very slowly or not at all, should be considered malignant until proven otherwise.
Problems in the radiographic detection and diagnosis of primary lung cancers were retrospectively analyzes for 64 patients who had radiographically demonstrable tumors. All of them were among 107 histologically confirmed Adult Health Study lung cancer patients who had consecutive biennial chest radiography from 1958 to 1978.
When first radiographically imaged, 17 cancers were not diagnosed; however, 11 of these 17 were actually equivocal and detectable only by retrospective review of serial films. Originally, eight lesions were misinterpreted as inflammatory processes, seven of which were diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis.
To avoid overlooking small lesions, the importance of comparing serial radiographs, and the special need for posteroanterior stereoscopic and lateral radiographic projections of the chest for members of such a high risk population are underscored. Radiologically, any nodule or apparently fibrotic density, even though small and growing very slowly or not at all, should be considered malignant until proven otherwise.