ONCOmmunity

The Use of CT Pattern in Differentiating Non-invasive, Minimally Invasive and Invasive Variants of Lung Adenocarcinoma.

By: Hynek Mirka, Jiri Ferda, Gabriela Krakorova, Josef Vodicka, Petr Mukensnabl, Ondrej Topolcan, Radek Kucera

Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic; mirka@fnplzen.cz.
2021-05-02; doi: 10.21873/anticanres.15257

Abstract

Background/aim

This study determined whether computed tomography (CT) is an appropriate means by which to differentiate non-invasive and minimally invasive forms of pulmonary adenocarcinoma from the invasive variant.

Patients

A total of 64 patients (38 men and 26 women, aged 42-76, mean age 64), who underwent surgery for pulmonary adenocarcinoma and a chest CT no less than 1 month before surgery, were included in the study. Lesions exhibiting ground glass opacity or ground glass opacity with a solid component of 5 mm or smaller, were defined as minimally invasive or non-invasive adenocarcinomas. CT findings were correlated with histopathological examination.

Results

Distinguishing minimally invasive and non-invasive adenocarcinoma from invasive adenocarcinoma using CT was achieved with a sensitivity of 77.7%, a specificity of 97.8%, a positive predictive value of 93.3%, and a negative predictive value of 91.8%.

Conclusion

CT can be useful in assessing the degree of invasiveness of pulmonary adenocarcinoma and is a potential tool for the individualization of treatment.