Document Detail


Management of patients with small pulmonary nodules: a survey of radiologists, pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16794168     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to survey recommendations for the management of small pulmonary nodules found on helical CT from radiologists, pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We surveyed 774 radiologists, 623 pulmonologists, and 101 thoracic surgeons. All are members of an associated Austrian scientific society and were asked for their recommendations in 13 hypothetical cases. Statistical analysis was focused on possible differences between medical specialities, residents and fellows, and male and female doctors and on a possible influence of the number of years in training or in medical practice. RESULTS: Complete surveys were returned from 91 radiologists, 74 pulmonologists, and 12 thoracic surgeons. The most frequent recommendation from radiologists was follow-up, whereas the most frequent recommendation from pulmonologists and surgeons was biopsy. The most frequently advised CT follow-up period was 3 months. Whereas thoracic surgeons preferred video-assisted thoracoscopy, radiologists and pulmonologists recommended less invasive procedures (bronchoscopy, CT-guided biopsy) to gain a specific diagnosis. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences in the management of small pulmonary nodules among radiologists, pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons. Whereas radiologists tend to recommend short-term follow-up, pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons prefer a more aggressive approach, especially in patients with a higher likelihood of malignancy.
Authors:
Helmut Prosch; Gertraud Strasser; Elisabeth Oschatz; Ewald Schober; Barbara Schneider; Gerhard H Mostbeck
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  AJR. American journal of roentgenology     Volume:  187     ISSN:  1546-3141     ISO Abbreviation:  AJR Am J Roentgenol     Publication Date:  2006 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-06-23     Completed Date:  2006-08-16     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7708173     Medline TA:  AJR Am J Roentgenol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  143-8     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Otto Wagner Hospital, Sanatoriumsstrasse 2, 1140 Vienna, Austria.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Austria
Data Collection
Female
Humans
Lung Neoplasms
Male
Physician's Practice Patterns*
Pulmonary Medicine
Radiology
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / radiography*,  therapy
Thoracic Surgery
Tomography, Spiral Computed*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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