CHEST Guidelines-Management-of-Lung-Nodules-and-Lung-Cancer-Screeni (1)

Management-of-Lung-Nodules-and-Lung-Cancer-Screeni (1)

Pdf Summary

The CHEST Expert Panel Report addresses the management of lung nodules and lung cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has shifted healthcare priorities and resources towards combating COVID-19, affecting the care of patients with other medical conditions, including lung nodules and cancer screenings. An expert panel formulated consensus statements to guide clinicians on adapting lung cancer screening and nodule management under these constraints.<br /><br />The report was developed by a multidisciplinary panel of pulmonologists, radiologists, and thoracic surgeons. It stresses that resource reallocation and risks associated with COVID-19 exposure necessitated modifications in current guidelines for lung cancer screenings and nodule evaluations. The panel's recommendations include delaying non-urgent care like baseline or annual lung cancer screenings, and surveillance imaging for some nodules, typically those with a low probability of malignancy or believed to be indolent cancers.<br /><br />Twelve consensus statements were formulated, focusing on scenarios ranging from denoting delaying screening appointments to postponing the evaluation of lung nodules with varying probabilities of malignancy. For high-risk nodules, the suggestions include proceeding with necessary testing while balancing the evaluation process with COVID-19 exposure risks to patients and healthcare providers. For instance, in cases of high malignancy probability, direct treatment decision-making that bypasses additional testing may minimize risks.<br /><br />The panel advises considering local COVID-19 prevalence, resource availability, and patient-specific factors when applying these guidelines. Communication with patients regarding the revised care approach due to the pandemic is crucial. Ultimately, the guidance aims to preserve healthcare resources while minimizing COVID-19 risks during lung cancer screening and nodule management.

Keywords

lung nodules

lung cancer screening

COVID-19 pandemic

healthcare priorities

consensus statements

multidisciplinary panel

resource reallocation

screening delays

malignancy probability

patient communication