EXPLORATION OF CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN ATHLETES WITH PRIMARY PULMONARY ADENOCARCINOMA EXHIBITING AIR SPACE SPREAD

Abstract

To investigate the clinical characteristics and associated factors of primary lung adenocarcinoma with air space spread (STAS) in athletes, we conducted a retrospective review of 200 athletes diagnosed between January 2015 and October 2017. Patients were classified into STAS and non-STAS groups based on the presence of spread through air spaces. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified factors associated with STAS. We found a significant increase in the STAS group for tumor diameter >3cm, presence of solid nodules, advanced clinical stages (III-IV), perineural invasion, lymphatic vessel invasion, vascular invasion, and pleural invasion. Independent risk factors for STAS in athletes included tumor size, nodule type, clinical stage, and various invasion types. Survival rates at 3, 4, and 5 years were lower in the STAS group compared to non-STAS (82.98%, 70.21%, and 68.09%, respectively). There was also a negative correlation between STAS and survival time (r=-0.423, P=0.007). These findings indicate that STAS in primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma in athletes is associated with larger tumors, solid nodules, higher clinical stages, and extensive invasions, significantly impacting survival rates. This suggests that STAS is a critical marker for prognosis and management in athletic populations diagnosed with this cancer.