According to Dr. Patz, the results of the study suggest that the detection of small nodules does not impact on patient survival. In other words, researchers saw no statistical relationship between tumor size and survival. According to the researchers, preliminary CT scanning trials showed that up to 30 percent of the small primary lung cancers of the patients had metastasized to regional lymph nodes or distant sites upon initial examination. About 25 percent will undergo surgical resection with curative intent.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in both men and women.
Approximately 160,000 deaths from the disease occur each year. The disease accounts for 28 percent of all cancer deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. Most cases occur between the ages of 60 and 80. Most patients still present with advanced disease, at which time therapeutic options are less than optimal. The Duke researchers believe that by the time a lesion has grown to 5 cm, or close to the detectable range of CT scan, the cancer is late in the biology of the disease.