IMPORTANCE Clinicians rely heavily on fluorodeoxyglucose F18–labeled positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging to evaluate lung nodules suspicious for cancer. We evaluated the performance of FDG-PET for the diagnosis of malignancy in differing populations with varying cancer prevalence. OBJECTIVE To determine the performance of FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing lung malignancy across different populations with varying cancer prevalence. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Multicenter retrospective cohort study at 6 academic medical centers and 1 Veterans Affairs facility that comprised a total of 1188 patients with known or suspected lung cancer from 7 different cohorts from 2005 to 2015. EXPOSURES 18F fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT imaging. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES Final diagnosis of cancer or benign disease was determined by pathological tissue diagnosis or at least 18 months of stable radiographic follow-up. RESULTS Most patients were male smokers older than 60 years. Overall cancer prevalence was 81% (range by cohort, 50%–95%). The median nodule size was 22 mm (interquartile range, 15–33 mm). Positron emission tomography/CT sensitivity and specificity were 90.1% (95%CI, 88.1%–91.9%) and 39.8% (95%CI, 33.4%–46.5%), respectively. False-positive PET scans occurred in 136 of 1188 patients. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 86.4% (95%CI, 84.2%–88.5%) and 48.7% (95%CI, 41.3%–56.1%), respectively. On logistic regression, larger nodule size and higher population cancer prevalence were both significantly associated with PET accuracy (odds ratio, 1.027; 95%CI, 1.015–1.040 and odds ratio, 1.030; 95%CI, 1.021–1.040, respectively). As the Mayo Clinic model–predicted probability of cancer increased, the sensitivity and positive predictive value of PET/CT imaging increased, whereas the specificity and negative predictive value dropped. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE High false-positive rates were observed across a range of cancer prevalence. Normal PET/CT scans were not found to be reliable indicators of the absence of disease in patients with a high probability of lung cancer. In this population, aggressive tissue acquisition should be prioritized using a comprehensive lung nodule program that emphasizes advanced tissue acquisition techniques such as CT-guided fine-needle aspiration, navigational bronchoscopy, and endobronchial ultrasonography.

Low mobility during hospitalization poses risks of functional decline and other poor outcomes for older adults. Given the pervasiveness of this problem, low mobility during hospitalization was first described as ‘dangerous’ in 1947 and later described as an epidemic. Hospitals have made considerable progress over the last half-century and the last two decades in particular, however, the COVID-19 pandemic presents serious new challenges that threaten to undermine recent efforts and progress towards a culture of mobility. In this special article, we address the question of how to confront an epidemic of immobility within a pandemic. We identify 4 specific problems for creating and advancing a culture of mobility posed by COVID-19: social distancing and policies restricting patient movement, personnel constraints, PPE shortages, and increased patient hesitancy to ambulate. We also propose 4 specific solutions to address these problems. These approaches will help support a culture of healthy mobility during and after hospitalization and help patients to keep moving during the pandemic and beyond.

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Background: Pulmonary resection can concurrently diagnose and treat known or suspected lung cancer, but is not without risk. Benign resection rates range widely (9% to 40%). We evaluated the impact of an Interventional Pulmonology (IP) program and dedicated Pulmonary Nodule Clinic on surgical benign resection rates at a single institution. Methods: An IP program was initiated in August 2010 that offered advanced diagnostic techniques and a dedicated Pulmonary Nodule Clinic was opened in August 2013. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent resection for known or suspected lung cancer between 2005 and 2015 at our tertiary referral hospital. Demographics, preoperative tissue diagnoses, surgical procedure, final pathology, and staging were collected. Quarterly benign resection rates were calculated and plotted on a statistical quality control chart (P-Chart) to determine the impact of the IP program and Pulmonary Nodule Clinic on benign resection rates over time. Results: Of 1112 resections, 209 (19%) were benign. Variation in quarterly benign resection rates decreased after introduction of the IP program in 2010, and a significant (P<0.05) sustained decrease in the quarterly benign resection rate occurred after introduction of the pulmonary nodule clinic in 2013 to a new baseline of 12% compared with 24% before 2010. After introduction of the IP program, mean quarterly preoperative tissue diagnostic rates increased from 45% to 58% (P<0.01). Conclusion: Integration of an IP program employing advanced diagnostic bronchoscopic techniques has improved preoperative diagnostic rates of suspicious pulmonary nodules and in combination with a pulmonary nodule clinic has resulted in fewer benign resections.

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