Tiny solid lung cancers in asymptomatic patients are less likely than larger ones to have metastasized. These early tumors with no metastases have a good curability rate, according to research from the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program.
Tiny solid lung cancers in asymptomatic patients are less likely than larger ones to have metastasized. These early tumors with no metastases have a good curability rate, according to research from the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program.
I-ELCAP screening data from nearly 29,000 patients yielded 464 cancers. Of these, 436 were non-small cell carcinomas, which are less aggressive than small cell cancer. Researchers found 85% of the NSC group had no metastases (Arch Intern Med 2006;166:321-325).
Size was directly related to metastatic rate: 91% of tumors 15 mm or smaller had no metastases, while 55% of tumors 36 mm or larger had no metastases. Solid lesions had a stronger correlation between size and metastases than part-solid lesions, while no association existed for nonsolid lesions.