Background: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic procedures performed in small peripheral pulmonary nodules that were detected at mass screening.
Patients and methods: The medical records were reviewed of patients who had peripheral pulmonary nodules < or =20 mm detected by mass screening between 1995 and 2007.
Results: A total of 41.7% of patients were diagnosed based on pathological findings of specimens obtained by bronchoscopic procedures (bronchoscopy group), while the remainder were diagnosed using specimens obtained by surgical biopsy (surgery group). The median diameter of lung tumors in the bronchoscopy group was 20 mm, while that in the surgery group was 15 mm. Of patients with lung cancer in the bronchoscopy group 22.9% had tumors < or =15 mm, however, 63.8% of patients in the surgery group had tumors < or =15 mm.
Conclusion: Pulmonary nodules < or =15 mm in diameter found in specimens obtained by bronchoscopic procedures should be diagnosed by surgical biopsy.