Liu Y, et al. - This study entails the determination of the incidence and risk factors of lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Researchers also intended to gain a better understanding of the clinical, imaging and pathological features and of lung cancer in IPF. A frequent incidence of lung cancer was reported in IPF patients. These patients primarily developed adenocarcinoma, located in IPF affected area. In this patient population, chest pain and hemoptysis were identified as the potential indicators of lung cancer developing as atypical nodes or masses located in the peripheral areas and lower lobes on chest HRCT.

Methods

• This study was performed on consecutive 268 IPF patients, 46 patients of those had pathologically or cytologically proven lung cancer.
• Researchers analyzed demographic, clinical, HRCT, and pathological features in patients with IPF and lung cancer and compared the results with the patients with IPF alone.

Results

• This analysis included a total of 268 IPF patients, 46 patients were diagnosed as IPF with lung cancer, accounted for 17.16%.
• Data showed that 45.65% were adenocarcinoma.
• The most common location of lung cancer was the peripheral area and lower lobes of lungs, consistent with IPF affected area.
• Researchers identified old age and heavy smoking as risk factors of lung cancer developing in IPF.
• They also observed that in IPF patients with vs without lung cancer (P=0.000), chest pain and hemoptysis were more frequent.
• In addition, nodular or mass shadows were found only in IPF patients with lung cancer (P=0.000).
• IPF patients with lung cancer (P≤0.001) had much higher levels of CEA and CA125.
• Results also revealed that the median survival time was 36.2±22.7 months in IPF patients, longer than 6.9±3.3 months in IPF patients with lung cancer (P<0.001).