Prognostic significance of thin-section CT scan findings in small-sized lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic importance of thin-section (TS) CT scan findings in small-sized lung adenocarcinomas.

Methods: We reviewed TS-CT scan findings and pathologic specimens from 359 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for peripheral lung adenocarcinomas

Results: No pathologic invasive findings or recurrence were found in patients with air-containing-type tumors. Pathologic invasive findings and recurrence were found in 10 to 30% of patients with solid-density-type tumors. The air-containing type tumors seen on TS-CT scans and Noguchi type A or B tumors were demonstrated as prognostic factors for good outcome by chi2 test (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed lymphatic permeation as a significant prognostic factor.

Conclusions: The TS-CT scan findings were important predictive factors for postsurgical outcome in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.