Imaging diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma (the forgotten disease) during times of COVID-19 pandemic: Current and future perspectives

Abstract

Patients with bronchogenic carcinoma comprise a high-risk group for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pneumonia and related complications. Symptoms of COVID-19 related pulmonary syndrome may be similar to deteriorating symptoms encountered during bronchogenic carcinoma progression. These resemblances add further complexity for imaging assessment of bronchogenic carcinoma. Similarities between clinical and imaging findings can pose a major challenge to clinicians in distinguishing COVID-19 super-infection from evolving bronchogenic carcinoma, as the above-mentioned entities require very different therapeutic approaches. However, the goal of bronchogenic carcinoma management during the pandemic is to minimize the risk of exposing patients to COVID-19, whilst still managing all life-threatening events related to bronchogenic carcinoma. The current pandemic has forced all healthcare stakeholders to prioritize per value resources and reorganize therapeutic strategies for timely management of patients with COVID-19 related pulmonary syndrome. Processing of radiographic and computed tomography images by means of artificial intelligence techniques can facilitate triage of patients. Modified and newer therapeutic strategies for patients with bronchogenic carcinoma have been adopted by oncologists around the world for providing uncompromised care within the accepted standards and new guidelines.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis: research advances in prediction and management

“…In the past three years, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia infection has affected almost everyone and has had a huge impact on the treatment of patients with malignancy. Pinato D J et al (68) described factors associated with the development of sequelae in COVID-19 surviving oncology patients and their relationship with survival after infection, and found that 15.0% of patients had at least one COVID-19 sequelae at the time of first oncology reassessment, including 116 (49.6%) respiratory sequelae, such as chronic cough, residual dyspnea, and shortness of breath, which undoubtedly caused irreversible damage, and residual inflammatory and interstitial fibrotic lung changes are more likely to lead to CIP, while the symptoms of COVID-19related pulmonary syndrome may be similar to the worsening of symptoms encountered during lung cancer progression (69). The similarity of clinical and imaging findings poses a greater challenge for confirmatory evaluation, and distinguishing whether the development of pneumonia is associated with ICIs becomes more important.…”