Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lung cancer incidence in Macao increases gradually, smoking is one of the important high risk factors. The purpose of this study is to observe the detection rate of lung cancer and nodules in long-term smoking Macao individuals. METHODS: We recruited eligible Macao residents by publicity, all subjects were arranged to receive low-dose computed tomography screening. Image features of lung nodules were analyzed by radiologist. For suspicious lung cancer, multiple disciplinary team (MDT) was arranged. RESULTS: A total of 291 were adopted, 10 lung cancers were detected, the detection rate of lung cancer was 3.44% (95%CI: 2.78%-4.01%), all were males. There were 5 adenocarcinoma patients, each 2 squamous-cell carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma patients; 1 adenosquamous cancer patient. Among 10 lung cancers, 40% had stage 1 disease. The detection rate of lung nodules was 72.9% (95%CI: 67.8%-78.0%); The number of suspicious lung nodules were 44, and the detection rate was 15.1% (95%CI: 11.0%-19.2%). There was no significant differences in the lung cancer detection rate between the single and multiple lung nodule groups (P>0.05). There were 168 subjects in the <6 mm solid lung nodule (SN) and <5 mm no-solid lung nodule (NSN) group and no lung cancer was found, 44 subjects in the ≥6 mm SN and ≥5 mm NSN group. All 9 lung cancer patients were detected in this group. The detection rate of lung cancer was higher than that of the <6 mm SN and <5 mm NSN group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There are high detection rate of lung cancer and lung nodule in the long-term smoking individuals. The lung cancer rate increases when the lung nodule size is larger than 6 mm in SN and 5 mm in NSN. Adenocarcinoma is the major type in the smokers' lung cancers. We suggest long-term smokers should join in the future lung cancer screening trial in Macao. Female lung cancer screening should be established different standard.