Rate of Incidental Lung Nodule Follow-Up: A Cohort Study Evaluating Adherence to Guideline Recommendations

Background: Solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) are commonly identified on imaging studies, and guidelines exist for follow-up. Adherence to guideline recommendations varies. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review at a single center in a metropolitan hospital to identify characteristics of patie...

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Main Authors: Zein Kattih, Jonathan A Moore, Brandon Wilson, Sravani Gajjala, Jacob Schwartz, Josef Kushner, Sean Zajac, Akhilesh Mahajan, Tungming Leung, Priyanka Makkar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:American Journal of Medicine Open
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667036425000056
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author Zein Kattih
Jonathan A Moore
Brandon Wilson
Sravani Gajjala
Jacob Schwartz
Josef Kushner
Sean Zajac
Akhilesh Mahajan
Tungming Leung
Priyanka Makkar
author_facet Zein Kattih
Jonathan A Moore
Brandon Wilson
Sravani Gajjala
Jacob Schwartz
Josef Kushner
Sean Zajac
Akhilesh Mahajan
Tungming Leung
Priyanka Makkar
author_sort Zein Kattih
collection DOAJ
description Background: Solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) are commonly identified on imaging studies, and guidelines exist for follow-up. Adherence to guideline recommendations varies. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review at a single center in a metropolitan hospital to identify characteristics of patients with lung nodules and determine the rate of follow-up of these patients. A total of 1266 patient records were reviewed, and 341 patients with solitary pulmonary nodules were identified. Results: The presence of emphysema was associated with an increased rate of follow-up with an odds ratio of 1.9. Of the patients with SPNs, 52% do not receive appropriate follow-up. Of the nodules identified, 40% were noted to be enlarged compared to prior imaging. Conclusions: Identification of SPNs requires a standard approach to ensure follow-up for early detection of potential malignancy. Appropriate follow-up allows improvement of the rate of early cancer detection.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series American Journal of Medicine Open
spelling doaj-art-6859a6ea51de4b1d967c600fd9c3c3fe2025-08-20T03:26:39ZengElsevierAmerican Journal of Medicine Open2667-03642025-06-011310009110.1016/j.ajmo.2025.100091Rate of Incidental Lung Nodule Follow-Up: A Cohort Study Evaluating Adherence to Guideline RecommendationsZein Kattih0Jonathan A Moore1Brandon Wilson2Sravani Gajjala3Jacob Schwartz4Josef Kushner5Sean Zajac6Akhilesh Mahajan7Tungming Leung8Priyanka Makkar9Department of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NY; Correspondence to: Zein Kattih, MD, 100 E. 77th St., 4 East, New York, NY, 10028.Department of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NYDepartment of Internal Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NYDepartment of Internal Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NYDepartment of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NYDepartment of Internal Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NYDepartment of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NYDepartment of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NYBiostatistics Unit, Office of Academic Affairs, Northwell Health, New York, NYDepartment of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, NYBackground: Solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) are commonly identified on imaging studies, and guidelines exist for follow-up. Adherence to guideline recommendations varies. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review at a single center in a metropolitan hospital to identify characteristics of patients with lung nodules and determine the rate of follow-up of these patients. A total of 1266 patient records were reviewed, and 341 patients with solitary pulmonary nodules were identified. Results: The presence of emphysema was associated with an increased rate of follow-up with an odds ratio of 1.9. Of the patients with SPNs, 52% do not receive appropriate follow-up. Of the nodules identified, 40% were noted to be enlarged compared to prior imaging. Conclusions: Identification of SPNs requires a standard approach to ensure follow-up for early detection of potential malignancy. Appropriate follow-up allows improvement of the rate of early cancer detection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667036425000056Chest imagingIncidental pulmonary noduleLung cancer screeningSolitary pulmonary nodules
spellingShingle Zein Kattih
Jonathan A Moore
Brandon Wilson
Sravani Gajjala
Jacob Schwartz
Josef Kushner
Sean Zajac
Akhilesh Mahajan
Tungming Leung
Priyanka Makkar
Rate of Incidental Lung Nodule Follow-Up: A Cohort Study Evaluating Adherence to Guideline Recommendations
American Journal of Medicine Open
Chest imaging
Incidental pulmonary nodule
Lung cancer screening
Solitary pulmonary nodules
title Rate of Incidental Lung Nodule Follow-Up: A Cohort Study Evaluating Adherence to Guideline Recommendations
title_full Rate of Incidental Lung Nodule Follow-Up: A Cohort Study Evaluating Adherence to Guideline Recommendations
title_fullStr Rate of Incidental Lung Nodule Follow-Up: A Cohort Study Evaluating Adherence to Guideline Recommendations
title_full_unstemmed Rate of Incidental Lung Nodule Follow-Up: A Cohort Study Evaluating Adherence to Guideline Recommendations
title_short Rate of Incidental Lung Nodule Follow-Up: A Cohort Study Evaluating Adherence to Guideline Recommendations
title_sort rate of incidental lung nodule follow up a cohort study evaluating adherence to guideline recommendations
topic Chest imaging
Incidental pulmonary nodule
Lung cancer screening
Solitary pulmonary nodules
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667036425000056
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