Bradley Allen

MD

Northwestern University

Resident

PLCO (Learn more about this study)

PLCO-300

Aug 29, 2017

MRI screening for lung cancer: Markov modeling using the NLST CT outcomes data

We propose to use Markov modeling for the use of MRI in the primary screening of lung cancer to determine its range of outcomes in this setting.[1] We hope to download the actual data from NLST for all of the various nodule sizes (benign and malignant) detected at CT and then create a statistical model (Markov) that can be used to estimate what would have happened if MRI was used instead.
We will vary the efficacy of MRI for determining the presence of a malignant nodule. The published the sensitivity of MRI for lung nodules of 4-8 mm in diameter has a range of 60 – 90% and reaches 100% for lesions larger than 8 mm in diameter. (2) Recently Cieszanowski et al. compared the diagnostic performance of MRI with different T2- and T1-weighted sequences for the detection of 113 small lung nodules in 50 patients and found 1 – 48 false positive reads depending on the sequence type. In other studies the false positive rate was only 5%.[3] When projecting a MRI-based lung cancer screening trial, it should be considered to use a multiparametric approach, combining at least 2 or 3 sequences, to minimize false positive studies.

The Markov model approach to screening would try to avoid conducting a large expensive study by using existing data on - sensitivity/ specificity, lung ca incidence, cancer growth rate to predict overall survival. In order to adequately model our screening methodology, we require population statistics on lung cancer mortality by stage and subtype through the PLCO database.

In summary, this “gedank’ experiment will help to use this new statistical method to determine the expected range of utility of using MRI for this screening.
References
[1] J. Biederer, Y. Ohno, H. Hatabu, M.L. Schiebler, E.J. van Beek, J. Vogel-Claussen, H.U. Kauczor, Screening for lung cancer: Does MRI have a role?, Eur J Radiol, (2016).
[2] G. Sommer, J. Tremper, M. Koenigkam-Santos, S. Delorme, N. Becker, J. Biederer, H.-U.
Kauczor, C.P. Heussel, H.-P. Schlemmer, M. Puderbach, Lung nodule detection in a high-risk
population: Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and low-dose computed tomography,
Eur. J. Radiol. 83 (2014) 600–605. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2013.11.012.
[3] A. Cieszanowski, A. Lisowska, M. Dabrowska, P. Korczynski, M. Zukowska, I.P. Grudzinski, R.
Pacho, O. Rowinski, R. Krenke, MR Imaging of Pulmonary Nodules: Detection Rate and Accuracy
of Size Estimation in Comparison to Computed Tomography, PloS One. 11 (2016) e0156272.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156272