Imaging Surveillance for Surgically Resected Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Is More Always Better?

Objective: Routine surveillance imaging for patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer is standard for the detection of disease recurrence and new primary lung cancers. However, surveillance intensity varies widely in practice, and its impact on long-term outcomes is poorly understood. We hypothesized that surveillance intensity was not associated with 5-year overall survival in patients with resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Additionally, we examined patterns of recurrence and new primary lung cancer development.
Methods: Cancer registrars at Commission on Cancer accredited institutions re-abstracted records to augment National Cancer Database patient data with information on comorbidities, imaging surveillance including intent and result of imaging, and recurrence (2007-2012). Pathologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing computed-tomography surveillance were placed into three imaging surveillance groups based on clinical practice guidelines: high intensity (3 month), moderate intensity (6 month), and low intensity (annual). Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox regression were used to compare overall survival among the three surveillance groups.
Results: 2442 patients were identified, with 805 (33%), 1216 (50%), and 421 (17%) patients in the high, moderate, and low surveillance intensity groups, respectively. Five-year overall survival was similar between intensity groups (p=0.547). Surveillance on asymptomatic patients detected 210 (63%) cases of locoregional recurrences and 128 (72%) cases of new primary lung cancer. Conclusions: In a unique national dataset of long-term outcomes for stage I non-small cell lung cancer, surveillance intensity was not associated with 5-year overall survival.