Survival impact of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities in resected stage IA non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the association between fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) and long-term survival in patients with resected Stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Data of patients who underwent curative resection of pathological Stage IA NSCLC between 2010 and 2015 were retrospectively analysed. ILAs were evaluated using pre-operative high-resolution CT scans. The association between ILAs and cause-specific mortality was assessed via Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to determine the risk factors for cause-specific death. Results: Overall, 228 patients were identified (63.27 ± 8.54 years, 133 men [58.3%]). ILAs were detected in 24 patients (10.53%). Fibrotic ILAs were observed in 16 patients (7.02%), and there was a significantly higher cause-specific mortality rate among patients with fibrotic ILAs compared with patients with no ILAs (p < 0.001). Patients with fibrotic ILAs had a significantly higher cause-specific mortality rate than patients without ILAs at 5 post-operative years (survival rate: 61.88% vs 93.03%, p < 0.001). The presence of afibrotic ILA was an independent risk factor for cause-specific death (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.22; 95% confidence interval: 1.10, 9.44; p = 0.033). Conclusion: The presence of afibrotic ILA was a risk factor for cause-specific death in patients with resected Stage IA NSCLC. Radiologists and clinicians should be familiar with the relatively new concept of ILAs and understand the close association between ILA status and long-term survival in resected Stage IA NSCLC. Patients presenting fibrotic ILAs should receive appropriate surveillance and management to optimise prognosis. Advances in knowledge: Fibrotic ILAs are important findings implicated inthe long-term survival of patients with resected Stage IA NSCLC. Specific management is required for this group.