Lung cancer detected during a screening program using four-month chest radiographs.

Abstract

Lung cancer (92) were detected in the Mayo Lung Project [Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA] in patients undergoing chest radiography every 4 mo. for screening. Patients (50) had a peripheral nodule, 16 had a perihilar nodule, 20 had hilar or mediastinal enlargement, and 6 had pneumonitis. The peripheral cancers grew slowly; 90% were visible in retrospect for months or even years. Despite this, 70% of the peripheral cancers were classified as postsurgical American Joint Committee (AJC) stage 1. The central cancers rew rapidly, usually presenting as hilar or mediastinal enlargements after normal findings on the previous radiograph obtained 4 mo. earlier. Most were classified as AJC stage 3 tumors.