Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39984890›Full record

SynthesisBMC cancer2025

Risk factors for malignant solid pulmonary nodules: a meta-analysis.

Yantao Yang, Xuancheng Li, Yaowu Duan, Jie Zhao, Qiubo Huang, Chen Zhou, Wangcai Li, Lianhua Ye

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yantao Yang *Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519 Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China.
Xuancheng Li *The second department of thoracic surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Yaowu Duan *Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519 Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China.
Jie ZhaoDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519 Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China.
Qiubo HuangDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519 Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China.
Chen ZhouDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519 Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China.
Wangcai LiDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519 Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China.
Lianhua YeDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 519 Kunzhou Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China. Lhye1204@aliyun.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82260508the Yunnan Provincial Basic Research Project 202201AY070001-135Yunnan Provincial High-level Health Technical Personnel Training Project L-2017006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevious studies have indicated that clinical and imaging features may assist in distinguishing between benign and malignant solid lung nodules. Yet, the specific characteristics in question continue to be debated. This meta-analysis aims to identify risk factors for malignant solid lung nodules, thereby supporting informed clinical decision-making.

methodsA comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Wanfang, CNKI, VIP, and CBM was conducted up to October 6, 2024. Only publications in Chinese or English were considered. Data analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software.

resultsThis analysis included 32 studies, comprising 7758 solid pulmonary nodules, of which 3359 were benign and 4399 were malignant. It was found that the incidence of spiculate signs in malignant solid pulmonary nodules (MSPN) was higher than in benign solid pulmonary nodules (BSPN) [OR = 3.06, 95% CI (2.35, 3.98), P < 0.05. Additionally, increases were observed in the incidences of vascular convergence[OR = 16.57, 95% CI (8.79, 31.24), P < 0.05], lobulated signs [OR = 5.17, 95% CI (3.83, 6.98)], air bronchogram sign[OR = 2.96, 95% CI (1.62, 5.41), P < 0.05], pleura traction sign [OR = 2.33, 95% CI (1.65, 3.29), P < 0.05], border blur [OR = 2.94, 95% CI (1.47, 5.85), P < 0.05], vacuole signs [OR = 5.25, 95% CI (2.66, 10.37), P < 0.05], and family history of cancer [OR = 3.85, 95% CI (2.43, 6.12), P < 0.05] compared to BSPN. Older age[OR = 1.06, 95% CI (1.04, 1.07), P < 0.05], higher prevalence in females [OR = 2.98, 95% CI (2.27, 3.92), P < 0.05], larger nodule diameters [OR = 1.25, 95% CI (1.13, 1.38), P < 0.05], and lower incidence of calcification [OR = 0.21, 95% CI (0.10, 0.48), P < 0.05] were also associated with MSPN. No significant differences were found between MSPN and BSPN regarding CEA and emphysema (all P > 0.05).

conclusionsThis meta-analysis highlights that spiculate sign, vascular convergence sign, lobulated sign, diameter, border blur, vacuole sign, age, gender, family history of cancer, pleura traction, air bronchogram sign, and calcification are significant markers for predicting malignancy in SPNs, potentially influencing clinical management. However, further well-designed, large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Indexed as

Lung NeoplasmsMultiple Pulmonary NodulesSolitary Pulmonary NoduleFemaleHumansMaleRisk FactorsMeta-analysisMmalignantRisk factorsSsolid pulmonary nodules

Identifiers

PMID39984890
PMCPMC11844030

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.