We sought to determine predictors of IPN progression to pulmonary metastasis and develop a tool for individualized risk stratification of patients who present with IPN on preoperative chest imaging in the setting of localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma.
We reviewed all patients who had radical nephrectomy with no evidence of distant metastases at a single institution from 2005–2009 who had ≥1 IPN on chest computed tomography that measured <2 cm. All chest computed tomographies were rereviewed by a radiologist who was blinded to outcomes, to independently determine number, size, and location of nodules.
The primary objective of the study was to develop a prognostic model to predict pulmonary metastases among radical nephrectomy patients who present with IPN based on readily available preoperative imaging and postoperative pathological criteria. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess the predictive factors for development of pulmonary metastasis. We developed a nomogram that predicted the 3-yr and 5-yr lung metastasis-free survival (LMFS), with assessment of discrimination and internal validation.
Among 251 patients with IPN who underwent nephrectomy, 72 (29%) developed pulmonary metastases. Median follow-up for the cohort was 36.6 mo. Three-yr and 5-yr probability of LMFS for the overall cohort was 71% (95% confidence interval 65–77%) and 65% (95% confidence interval 57–72%), respectively. The nomogram developed included number and size of IPN along with postoperative pathological variables, and showed calibration with a concordance index (c-index) of 0.81 and a bootstrap corrected c-index of 0.78. Limitations include retrospective study with no external validation.
We developed a nomogram to predict the individualized risk LMFS for patients who underwent nephrectomy for localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma.
We reviewed outcomes among kidney cancer patients who presented with small lung nodules and developed a clinical tool to predict risk of developing lung metastases.