Post-Treatment Management Options for Patients with Lung Cancer

Authors:
  • LMLowell W. McKirgan
    Lowell W. McKirgan
  • MCMichele C. A. Caputo
    Michele C. A. Caputo
  • DMDiana M. Mahurin
    Diana M. Mahurin
  • LCLeigh C. Chao
    Leigh C. Chao
  • NCNicholas A. Caputo
    Nicholas A. Caputo
  • KNKeith S. Naunheim
    Keith S. Naunheim
  • MFM. Wayne Flye
    M. Wayne Flye
  • KGKathleen N. Gillespie
    Kathleen N. Gillespie
  • FJFrank E. Johnson
    Frank E. Johnson
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Abstract
The first objective was to identify variations in patient management practice patterns after potentially curative lung cancer surgery. Patient management practice patterns were expected to range from intensive follow-up to no active surveillance. The second objective was to measure whether intensity of follow-up was related to patient outcomes. An 18-month retrospective analysis was conducted of 182 patients with low TNM stage (≤IIIA) lung cancer who were surgically treated with curative intent over the 11 -year period from 1982 through 1992 at the St. Louis Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients were followed for a mean of 3.3 years, until death or the end of the study. Analyses of diagnostic test and outpatient visit frequency distributions and cluster analyses facilitated the identification of 62 nonintensively followed patients and 120 intensively followed patients. Both groups were comparable at baseline, and there were no significant differences in patient outcomes attributable to intensity of follow-up. Intensively followed patients did, however, live an average of 192 days longer than nonintensively followed patients. Significant variations in follow-up practice patterns can exist within a single health care facility. In this analysis, variations in test and visit frequency did not result in statistically significant differences in patient outcomes, though the survival difference between groups suggests that some benefit might exist. Only well-designed prospective trials are likely to answer the question of what constitutes optimal follow-up after potentially curative lung cancer treatment.

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