Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Early detection strategies include LC screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and incidental pulmonary nodule clinics (IPNCs). This study describes the structure, workflow, and outcomes of an integrated early...

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Authors: Sánchez Cucó, Anna, Santisteve, Sally, Vila, Anna, Manzano, Carlos, Zuil, Maria, Monge, Aida, Sanz, Clara, Gracia Lavedan, Esther, Ramírez Seco, Nerea, Suárez, Marcela, Barril, Silvia, El Arfaoui, Wassim, Benítez, Iván, Gatius Calderó, Sònia, Rombolá, Carlos, Fernández, Leandre, Pardina, Marina, Esqué, Maria Teresa, Garcia, Virginia, González, José David, Sampedro, Cora Andrea, Montesinos, Mario, Aviles, Juan Diego, Rodrigo, Alberto, Abellaneda, Jacinto, Farré, Pere, Vilo, Lidia, de Gonzalo Calvo, David, Yip, Rowena, Yankelevitz, David, Henschke, Claudia, Barbé Illa, Ferran, González, Jessica
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10459.1/469556
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.opresp.2025.100527
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469556
http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469556
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Early-stage lung cancer
Emphysema
Low-dose computed tomography
Lung cancer screening
Pulmonary nodule
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spelling Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule ClinicSánchez Cucó, AnnaSantisteve, SallyVila, AnnaManzano, CarlosZuil, MariaMonge, AidaSanz, ClaraGracia Lavedan, EstherRamírez Seco, NereaSuárez, MarcelaBarril, SilviaEl Arfaoui, WassimBenítez, IvánGatius Calderó, SòniaRombolá, CarlosFernández, LeandrePardina, MarinaEsqué, Maria TeresaGarcia, VirginiaGonzález, José DavidSampedro, Cora AndreaMontesinos, MarioAviles, Juan DiegoRodrigo, AlbertoAbellaneda, JacintoFarré, PereVilo, Lidiade Gonzalo Calvo, DavidYip, RowenaYankelevitz, DavidHenschke, ClaudiaBarbé Illa, FerranGonzález, JessicaChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseEarly-stage lung cancerEmphysemaLow-dose computed tomographyLung cancer screeningPulmonary noduleBackground: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Early detection strategies include LC screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and incidental pulmonary nodule clinics (IPNCs). This study describes the structure, workflow, and outcomes of an integrated early diagnosis strategy combining LCS and IPNCs. Material and methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of a prospective observational study (May 2023–June 2025) implementing an integrated IPNC-LCS model. All IPNC patients underwent initial LCrisk assessment: highly suspicious lesions were referred to a fast-track diagnostic pathway, low-risk patients to primary care (PC), and high-risk individuals to the LCS program. Additional referrals to the LCS program were received from pulmonology clinics and PC. The LCS program followed the I-ELCAP protocol, including LDCT, lung function testing, 1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) screening, and smoking cessation support. Results: The IPNC evaluated 481 individuals: 30 (6.2%) had suspicious lung lesions, with four stage I LC confirmed; 282 (58.6%) were classified as low-risk; and 150 (31.2%) as high risk of whom 97 were enrolled in LCS. The LCS program also received 199 referrals from PC and 122 from pulmonology clinics, totaling 418 participants at baseline (63.2% male; mean age 63.0 ± 6.43 years; 52.9% former smokers; 39.7% with COPD; 67.9% with emphysema). New diagnoses included emphysema (n = 106), COPD (n = 25), and AATD mutations (n = 95). Smoking cessation referral was accepted by 74% of smokers. LC was detected in 17 participants (4.07%), 14 (82.4%) at stage I, all receiving curative-intent treatment. Conclusions: This integrated IPNC–LCS model achieved high early-stage LC detection and enabled curative treatment, while uncovering unrecognized respiratory comorbidities and promoting smoking cessation.Elsevier2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.opresp.2025.100527https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469556http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469556reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunyainstname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)InglésReproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.1016/j.opresp.2025.100527Open Respiratory Archives, 2025, vol. 8, núm. 1, 100527cc-by-nc-nd, (c) Anna Sánchez Cucó et al., 2025Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/oai:recercat.cat:10459.1/4695562026-05-29T05:05:01Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic
title Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic
spellingShingle Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic
Sánchez Cucó, Anna
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Early-stage lung cancer
Emphysema
Low-dose computed tomography
Lung cancer screening
Pulmonary nodule
title_short Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic
title_full Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic
title_fullStr Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic
title_full_unstemmed Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic
title_sort Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Sánchez Cucó, Anna
Santisteve, Sally
Vila, Anna
Manzano, Carlos
Zuil, Maria
Monge, Aida
Sanz, Clara
Gracia Lavedan, Esther
Ramírez Seco, Nerea
Suárez, Marcela
Barril, Silvia
El Arfaoui, Wassim
Benítez, Iván
Gatius Calderó, Sònia
Rombolá, Carlos
Fernández, Leandre
Pardina, Marina
Esqué, Maria Teresa
Garcia, Virginia
González, José David
Sampedro, Cora Andrea
Montesinos, Mario
Aviles, Juan Diego
Rodrigo, Alberto
Abellaneda, Jacinto
Farré, Pere
Vilo, Lidia
de Gonzalo Calvo, David
Yip, Rowena
Yankelevitz, David
Henschke, Claudia
Barbé Illa, Ferran
González, Jessica
author Sánchez Cucó, Anna
author_facet Sánchez Cucó, Anna
Santisteve, Sally
Vila, Anna
Manzano, Carlos
Zuil, Maria
Monge, Aida
Sanz, Clara
Gracia Lavedan, Esther
Ramírez Seco, Nerea
Suárez, Marcela
Barril, Silvia
El Arfaoui, Wassim
Benítez, Iván
Gatius Calderó, Sònia
Rombolá, Carlos
Fernández, Leandre
Pardina, Marina
Esqué, Maria Teresa
Garcia, Virginia
González, José David
Sampedro, Cora Andrea
Montesinos, Mario
Aviles, Juan Diego
Rodrigo, Alberto
Abellaneda, Jacinto
Farré, Pere
Vilo, Lidia
de Gonzalo Calvo, David
Yip, Rowena
Yankelevitz, David
Henschke, Claudia
Barbé Illa, Ferran
González, Jessica
author_role author
author2 Santisteve, Sally
Vila, Anna
Manzano, Carlos
Zuil, Maria
Monge, Aida
Sanz, Clara
Gracia Lavedan, Esther
Ramírez Seco, Nerea
Suárez, Marcela
Barril, Silvia
El Arfaoui, Wassim
Benítez, Iván
Gatius Calderó, Sònia
Rombolá, Carlos
Fernández, Leandre
Pardina, Marina
Esqué, Maria Teresa
Garcia, Virginia
González, José David
Sampedro, Cora Andrea
Montesinos, Mario
Aviles, Juan Diego
Rodrigo, Alberto
Abellaneda, Jacinto
Farré, Pere
Vilo, Lidia
de Gonzalo Calvo, David
Yip, Rowena
Yankelevitz, David
Henschke, Claudia
Barbé Illa, Ferran
González, Jessica
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Early-stage lung cancer
Emphysema
Low-dose computed tomography
Lung cancer screening
Pulmonary nodule
topic Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Early-stage lung cancer
Emphysema
Low-dose computed tomography
Lung cancer screening
Pulmonary nodule
description Background: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Early detection strategies include LC screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and incidental pulmonary nodule clinics (IPNCs). This study describes the structure, workflow, and outcomes of an integrated early diagnosis strategy combining LCS and IPNCs. Material and methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of a prospective observational study (May 2023–June 2025) implementing an integrated IPNC-LCS model. All IPNC patients underwent initial LCrisk assessment: highly suspicious lesions were referred to a fast-track diagnostic pathway, low-risk patients to primary care (PC), and high-risk individuals to the LCS program. Additional referrals to the LCS program were received from pulmonology clinics and PC. The LCS program followed the I-ELCAP protocol, including LDCT, lung function testing, 1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) screening, and smoking cessation support. Results: The IPNC evaluated 481 individuals: 30 (6.2%) had suspicious lung lesions, with four stage I LC confirmed; 282 (58.6%) were classified as low-risk; and 150 (31.2%) as high risk of whom 97 were enrolled in LCS. The LCS program also received 199 referrals from PC and 122 from pulmonology clinics, totaling 418 participants at baseline (63.2% male; mean age 63.0 ± 6.43 years; 52.9% former smokers; 39.7% with COPD; 67.9% with emphysema). New diagnoses included emphysema (n = 106), COPD (n = 25), and AATD mutations (n = 95). Smoking cessation referral was accepted by 74% of smokers. LC was detected in 17 participants (4.07%), 14 (82.4%) at stage I, all receiving curative-intent treatment. Conclusions: This integrated IPNC–LCS model achieved high early-stage LC detection and enabled curative treatment, while uncovering unrecognized respiratory comorbidities and promoting smoking cessation.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.1016/j.opresp.2025.100527
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469556
http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469556
url https://doi.org/10.1016/j.opresp.2025.100527
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469556
http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469556
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.1016/j.opresp.2025.100527
Open Respiratory Archives, 2025, vol. 8, núm. 1, 100527
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv cc-by-nc-nd, (c) Anna Sánchez Cucó et al., 2025
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
rights_invalid_str_mv cc-by-nc-nd, (c) Anna Sánchez Cucó et al., 2025
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
instname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
instname_str Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
reponame_str Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
collection Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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