Diagnostic procedure for lung cancer has 17 percent complication rate: JAMA

USA: CT lung cancer screening exams results in complication rate of almost 17%, reveals a recent study. The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, highlights the significance of minimizing potential harms resulting from screening by ensuring adherence to clinical guidelines for management and evaluation of screening-detected lung abnormalities and by using shared decision-making.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun coverage of lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for people aged 55 to 77 years who meet screening eligibility criteria, based on the results from the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST). A previous study found complication rate of diagnosis procedures for lung-abnormalities to be more than double than that reported by NLST. 

A major criticism of the previous analysis was that these estimates may not be directly applicable to the screening cohort because the study used claims data predating insurance coverage of LDCT screening. In this updated analysis, Hui Zhao, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and colleagues evaluated the complication rates among patients who received lung cancer screening with LDCT in community settings.

In the case-control study, the researchers used Current Procedural Terminology CPT codes for identifying patients who had LDCT screening between February 1, 2015, and June 30, 2017, and underwent an invasive diagnostic procedure within 6 months of LDCT. All the included patients were required to be enrolled in private health insurance 6 months before and after LDCT to calculate comorbidity scores and monitor the use of invasive procedures, respectively.

Invasive diagnostic procedures were categorized into following groups: cytology or needle biopsy, bronchoscopy, thoracic surgery, and other surgical procedures. A 1:1 case-control direct matching method was applied to generate study cohort with age, sex, comorbidity score, state of residence, and quarter-year of LDCT screening as matching factors. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) reporting guideline was followed. 

"Screening with LDCT reduces lung cancer mortality in high-risk populations. The findings of this case-control study indicated an overall complication rate of 16.6% among patients who underwent invasive diagnostic procedures after lung cancer screening with LDCT in real-world circumstances. Most complications were of minor or intermediate severity," wrote the authors.

"Our study highlights the importance of minimizing potential harms of screening by using shared decision-making and ensuring adherence to clinical guidelines for evaluation and management of screening-detected lung abnormalities," they concluded. 

"Updated Analysis of Complication Rates Associated With Invasive Diagnostic Procedures After Lung Cancer Screening," is published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

DOI: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774245