Increased Mortality Risk in Lung Cancer Patients with Complex Nodules

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, has revealed a significant increase in mortality risk for patients with lung cancer who have nodules located in the same-lobe or in different lobes on the same side as the primary tumor. A study of 166,097 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database found that compared to patients with a single tumor, those with same-lobe, multi-lobe, or mixed nodules had a significantly increased mortality risk. The study also found that surgical intervention in these patients further increased this risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed a dataset of 166,097 patients with lung cancer from the SEER database.
  • Patients with same-lobe, multi-lobe, or mixed nodules had a significantly increased mortality risk compared to those with single tumors.
  • Surgical intervention in these patients further increased this risk.
  • The study controlled for eight covariates, including age, sex, and race, in the analysis.
  • Stratified analysis indicated that the increase in mortality risk was substantially greater among patients who underwent surgical treatment than among those who did not receive surgery.
  • Patients with lung cancer who have satellite nodules located in the same-lobe or in different lobes on the same side as the primary tumor have a significantly higher mortality risk than those with single tumors.
  • Researchers at Zhejiang University School of Medicine conducted the study, which was published in the Journal of Thoracic Disease.

Statistics:

  • 166,097 patients with lung cancer were included in the study dataset.
  • 17,000 patients with same-lobe nodules, 23,000 patients with multi-lobe nodules, and 15,000 patients with mixed-distribution nodules were included in the study.
  • 60-day mortality rates were 4.3% for single-tumor patients and 6.2% for patients with same-lobe nodules.
  • 1-year survival rates were 44.1% for single-tumor patients and 34.5% for patients with same-lobe nodules.

Sources:

  • Liu, J., Ye, J., Ma, Y., Wang, Y., Xia, P., Lv, W., Hu, S., Hu, J., et al. (2025). Increased mortality in lung cancer patients with same-lobe, multi-lobe, or mixed nodules: a retrospective study of 166,097 participants from the SEER database. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 17(7), 4439-4472.
  • Zhejiang University School of Medicine. (2025). Recent Reports from Zhejiang University School of Medicine Highlight Findings in Lung Cancer (Increased mortality in lung cancer patients with same-lobe, multi-lobe, or mixed nodules: a retrospective study of 166,097 participants from the SEER ...). Cancer Weekly, August 26, 2025, p 582.