Solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs): Outcome of 6-year follow-up by a VA multidisciplinary lung cancer group.

7073 Background: The multidisciplinary lung cancer group was established at the Memphis VA Hospital in 2000, and during the first 6 years we followed 1433 patients with suspicious pulmonary lesions. We report the follow up of 381 of these patients presenting with SPNs. Methods: All patients had a nodule or nodules < 3 cm in diameter. After initial evaluation including CT scanning, patients received either an attempt at direct histologic diagnosis with bronchoscopy, fine needle biopsy or surgery, or were otherwise followed in our clinic for a minimum of 2 years. Results: Of the 381 patients, 335 were evaluable for complete analysis. Patient characteristics included: 70% Caucasian, 29% Afro American, 96% male, 90% smokers, and a mean age of 65 years. Physical appearance of the nodule at initial examination was predictive of neoplasm if: calcified (28 pts) in 7%, nodular (202 pts) in 20%, lobular (26 pts) in 54%, spiculated (62 pts) in 70% and growth during follow-up (40 pts) in 93%. Size at initial evaluati...