Pulmonary nodules detected by thoracic computed tomography scan after exposure to asbestos: diagnostic significance
DESIGN: Standardised incidence and mortality ratios (SIR) for lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma were calculated in patients with and without mention of pulmonary nodules and compared using comparative morbidity figures.
RESULTS: A significant excess incidence of primary lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma was observed among subjects presenting with pulmonary nodule(s) (SIR respectively 1.95, 95%CI 1.22–2.95, and 11.88, 95%CI 3.20–30.41). However, there was no significant relationship between pulmonary nodules mentioned by radiologists and cumulative asbestos exposure or between pulmonary nodules and the presence of asbestosrelated benign diseases.
CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the expected excess prevalence of lung cancer in subjects presenting with pulmonary nodules according to the radiologist's report, and shows the absence of relationship between the presence of nodules and level of cumulative asbestos exposure. Our study therefore offers no argument in favour of specific surveillance modalities based on estimated cumulative asbestos exposure.
Keywords: ASBESTOS; CT SCAN; LUNG CANCER; PULMONARY NODULE; SCREENING
Document Type: Short Communication
Affiliations: 1: Cancers and Populations, Faculty of Medicine, ERI3 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Caen University Hospital, Caen; Occupational Health Department, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France 2: Unité 954, Faculty of Medicine, INSERM, Nancy University Hospital, Nancy, France 3: Cancers and Populations, Faculty of Medicine, ERI3 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Caen University Hospital, Caen, France 4: Assistance Publique/Hôpitaux de Paris, Occupational Diseases Department, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France 5: Occupational Diseases Department, Laboratoire Santé Travail Environnement, University Hospital, Bordeaux, France 6: Occupational Health Department, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France 7: Occupational Diseases Department, University Hospital, Rouen, France 8: Unité 855, INSERM, Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France 9: Échelon Régional du Service Médical, Rhône-Alpes, Regional Security Insurance, Lyons, France 10: Unité 955, INSERM, Créteil; Service de Pneumologie et Pathologie Professionnelle, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal, Créteil, France
Publication date: 01 December 2011
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