Background Most of the data regarding prevalence and size distribution of solid lung nodules originates from lung cancer screening studies that target high-risk populations or from Asian general cohorts. In recent years, the identification of lung nodules in non-high-risk populations, scanned for clinical indications, has increased. However, little is known about the presence of solid lung nodules in the Northern European nonsmoking population. Purpose To study the prevalence and size distribution of solid lung nodules by age and sex in a nonsmoking population. Materials and Methods Participants included nonsmokers (never or former smokers) from the population-based Imaging in Lifelines study conducted in the Northern Netherlands. Participants (age ≥ 45 years) with completed lung function tests underwent chest low-dose CT scans. Seven trained readers registered the presence and size of solid lung nodules measuring 30 mm3 or greater using semiautomated software. The prevalence and size of lung nodules (≥30 mm3), clinically relevant lung nodules (≥100 mm3), and actionable nodules (≥300 mm3) are presented by 5-year categories and by sex. Results A total of 10 431 participants (median age, 60.4 years [IQR, 53.8-70.8 years]; 56.6% [n = 5908] female participants; 46.1% [n = 4812] never smokers and 53.9% [n = 5619] former smokers) were included. Of these, 42.0% (n = 4377) had at least one lung nodule (male participants, 47.5% [2149 of 4523]; female participants, 37.7% [2228 of 5908]). The prevalence of lung nodules increased from age 45-49.9 years (male participants, 39.4% [219 of 556]; female participants, 27.7% [236 of 851]) to age 80 years or older (male participants, 60.7% [246 of 405]; female participants, 50.9% [163 of 320]). Clinically relevant lung nodules were present in 11.1% (1155 of 10 431) of participants, with prevalence increasing with age (male participants, 8.5%-24.4%; female participants, 3.7%-15.6%), whereas actionable nodules were present in 1.1%-6.4% of male participants and 0.6%-4.9% of female participants. Conclusion Lung nodules were present in a substantial proportion of all age groups in the Northern European nonsmoking population, with slightly higher prevalence for male participants than female participants. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article.

中文翻译：

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北欧非吸烟人群中按年龄和性别划分的实性肺结节的存在和大小的分布。


背景 大多数有关肺实性结节患病率和大小分布的数据来源于针对高危人群或亚洲一般队列的肺癌筛查研究。近年来，通过扫描临床指征，在非高危人群中发现肺结节的情况有所增加。然而，人们对北欧不吸烟人群中是否存在实性肺结节知之甚少。目的 研究非吸烟人群中按年龄和性别划分的肺实性结节的患病率和大小分布。材料和方法 参与者包括来自在荷兰北部进行的基于人群的生命线成像研究的非吸烟者（从不或以前吸烟者）。完成肺功能测试的参与者（年龄≥45岁）接受胸部低剂量CT扫描。七名经过培训的读者使用半自动软件记录了测量为 30 mm3 或更大的实性肺结节的存在和大小。肺结节（≥30 mm3）、临床相关肺结节（≥100 mm3）和可手术结节（≥300 mm3）的患病率和大小按 5 年类别和性别列出。结果 共有 10 431 名参与者（中位年龄 60.4 岁 [IQR，53.8-70.8 岁]；56.6% [n = 5908] 女性参与者；46.1% [n = 4812] 从未吸烟者，53.9% [n = 5619] 以前吸烟者吸烟者）也包括在内。其中，42.0% (n = 4377) 至少有一个肺结节（男性参与者，47.5% [4523 人中的 2149 人]；女性参与者，37.7% [5908 人中的 2228 人]）。肺结节的患病率从 45-49.9 岁（男性参与者，39.4% [556 人中的 219 人]；女性参与者，27.7% [851 人中的 236 人]）增加到 80 岁或以上（男性参与者，60.7% [246 人] 405]；女性参与者，50.9% [320 人中的 163 人]）。 11.1%（10 431 名参与者中的 1155 名）存在临床相关肺结节，患病率随着年龄的增长而增加（男性参与者，8.5%-24.4%；女性参与者，3.7%-15.6%），而可操作的结节则存在于 1.1% 的参与者中。 %-6.4% 的男性参与者和 0.6%-4.9% 的女性参与者。结论 在北欧非吸烟人群的所有年龄组中，很大比例都存在肺结节，男性参与者的患病率略高于女性参与者。 © RSNA，2024 本文提供补充材料。