Evidence-based medicine, a case report of adenocarcinoma of the lung

Abstract

Common access to high resolution computed tomography has increased the early detection of solitary lung nodules. The incidence of lung cancer is high with poor outcomes in the advanced stages of the disease. The best prognosis is achieved with complete surgical resection of a solitary small lung nodule. Low-dose computed tomography used as the screening test reveals solitary nodule in up to 50% of cigarettes smokers above 50 years of age. The guidelines of American College of Chest Physicians can be a helpful method to assess the potential malignancy of a nodule. Clinical experience and Bayesian analysis should be considered in a case of a suspected lung nodule on CT scans.

We present the case of a patient with a solitary lung nodule, and emphasise discrepancies between diagnostic and clinical assessment based on the evidence-based medicine guidelines.