AI Article Synopsis
- Screening for pulmonary tumors in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is crucial, as early detection can change treatment plans.
- A study of 1,882 patients showed a 4.3% rate of synchronous pulmonary tumors, highlighting different outcomes based on disease severity and tumor types.
- The research suggests using thoracic CT scans for all SCCHN patients to effectively identify any concurrent pulmonary issues, despite challenges in establishing specific screening guidelines for certain types of lung cancer.
Article Abstract
Background: Screening for synchronous pulmonary tumors in patients presenting with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is important, because detection may alter subsequent management.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective review, comparing effectiveness of pulmonary screening using thoracic CT or chest X-ray, in 1882 patients presenting with SCCHN.
Results: The overall rate of synchronous pulmonary tumors was 4.3%. The number needed to scan, ie, the number of thoracic CTs required to detect 1 pulmonary tumor, is reported for recurrent primary tumors, primary disease load (T and N classification), and individual primary sites. The incidence of pulmonary metastases is related to locoregional disease load while the incidence of bronchogenic carcinoma is sporadic.
Conclusion: Although it is possible to propose a pragmatic screening protocol for pulmonary metastases, this is not possible for bronchogenic carcinomas. Therefore, we recommend that thoracic CT is used in all cases to screen for coexistent pulmonary pathology.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hed.21124 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!