Publications by authors named "Stefano Sestini"

Purpose: To compare Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) with four different Ultra-Low-Dose Computed Tomography (ULDCT) protocols for PN classification according to the Lung Reporting and Data System (LungRADS).

Methods: Three hundred sixty-one participants of an ongoing lung cancer screening (LCS) underwent single-breath-hold double chest Computed Tomography (CT), including LDCT (120kVp, 25mAs; CTDIvol 1,62 mGy) and one ULDCT among: fully automated exposure control ("ULDCT"); fixed tube-voltage and current according to patient size ("ULDCT"); hybrid approach with fixed tube-voltage ("ULDCT") and tube current automated exposure control ("ULDCT"). Two radiologists (R1, R2) assessed LungRADS 2022 categories on LDCT, and then after 2 weeks on ULDCT using two different kernels (R1: Qr49; R2: Br49).

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This study aims to compare the low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) outcome and volume-doubling time (VDT) derived from the measured volume (MV) and estimated volume (EV) of pulmonary nodules (PNs) detected in a single-center lung cancer screening trial. MV, EV and VDT were obtained for prevalent pulmonary nodules detected at the baseline round of the bioMILD trial. The LDCT outcome (based on bioMILD thresholds) and VDT categories were simulated on PN- and screenee-based analyses.

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There are no robust data on the real onset of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and spread in the prepandemic period worldwide. We investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific antibodies in blood samples of 959 asymptomatic individuals enrolled in a prospective lung cancer screening trial between September 2019 and March 2020 to track the date of onset, frequency, and temporal and geographic variations across the Italian regions. SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific antibodies were detected in 111 of 959 (11.

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Objectives: The 2019 Lung CT Screening Reporting & Data System version 1.1 (Lung-RADS v1.1) introduced volumetric categories for nodule management.

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Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening trials have based their risk selection algorithm on age and tobacco exposure, but never on pulmonary risk-related biomarkers. In the present study, the baseline inflammatory status, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and lung function, measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), were tested as independent predictors of all-cause mortality in LDCT-screening participants. Between 2000 and 2010, 4413 volunteers were enrolled in two LDCT-screening trials, with evaluable baseline CRP and FEV1 values: 2037 were included in the discovery set and 2376 were included in the validation set.

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Background: The issue of overdiagnosis in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening trials could be addressed by the development of complementary biomarkers able to improve detection of aggressive disease. The mutation profile of LDCT screening-detected lung tumors is currently unknown.

Methods: Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed on 94 LDCT screening-detected lung tumors.

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The benefits and harms of lung cancer (LC) screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) are debatable. Positive results from the US National Lung Screening Trial were not evident in the European trials, possibly due to their smaller sample sizes. To address this issue, we conducted a patient-level pooled analysis of two Italian randomized controlled trials.

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Lung cancer still remains a high mortality disease in the face of developments in diagnostic and therapeutic methods that occurred in the last 20 years. The analysis of the experiences from the first studies - in which chest X-ray (CXR) was adopted, associated or not with sputum cytology - has failed to show a reduction in lung cancer specific mortality. Subsequent screening studies that have introduced the use of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) have revealed a large number of early-stage lung cancers, thus potentially curable; however, this has not allowed us to demonstrate a decrease in lung cancer-specific mortality.

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Introduction: The National Lung Screening Trial has achieved a 7% reduction in total mortality with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening as compared with in the chest radiography arm. Other randomized trials are under way, comparing LDCT screening with no intervention. None of these studies was designed to investigate the impact of smoking habits on screening outcome.

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Introduction: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) constitutes a distinct component of symptomatic or advanced-stage lung cancers in clinical practice and in lung cancer screening trials. The purpose of this study was to describe the outcome of SCLC in lung cancer screening trials and compare the frequency of SCLC in our cohort with that in the major lung cancer screening trials.

Methods: Subjects with a diagnosis of SCLC were selected from two lung cancer screening trials by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), and their demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, tumor stage at diagnosis, therapy, and survival times were recorded.

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Liquid biopsies can detect biomarkers carrying information on the development and progression of cancer. We demonstrated that a 24 plasma-based microRNA signature classifier (MSC) was capable of increasing the specificity of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) in a lung cancer screening trial. In the present study, we tested the prognostic performance of MSC, and its ability to monitor disease status recurrence in LDCT screening-detected lung cancers.

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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Advances in early detection crucial to enable timely curative surgery have been made in recent years. Cost-benefit profiles of lung cancer screening in smokers by low-dose computed tomography are still under evaluation.

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The identification of the optimal mediastinal staging strategy in lung cancer patients remains an important objective to improve their selection for appropriate treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze our experience with traditional transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) and endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) as minimally invasive alternative procedures to mediastinoscopy in the preoperative staging of lung cancer patients with positive mediastinal positron emission tomography. Forty-four patients staged N2 or N3 after positron emission tomography were included in the study.

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The presence of emphysema may lead to an underestimation of postoperative respiratory function after lobectomy when evaluated by standard functional assessment. The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between computed tomography (CT) densitometry, pathological grading of emphysema and variation of pulmonary function after lobectomy for lung cancer. Forty-one patients entered the study.

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