Comparison of clinical and demographic data between patients with post-obstructive pneumonia and community-acquired pneumonia
Clinical and demographic data were collected and are summarized in Table 1. Post-obstructive pneumonia with endobronchial tumors was more common in elderly individuals (69 years vs. 56 years; P < 0.05), males (93.4% vs. 47.1%; P < 0.05), and smokers (67.2% vs. 14.7%; P < 0.05). Both groups displayed symptoms of cough and expectoration with no significant difference (P < 0.05). However, hemoptysis and chest pain were more frequent in the post-obstructive pneumonia group (26.2% vs. 10.8% and 23.0% vs. 11.8%, respectively; P < 0.05). In contrast, sputum production and fever were more prevalent in the community-acquired pneumonia group (68.9% vs. 83.3% and 14.8% vs. 46.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). The post-obstructive pneumonia group showed significantly higher levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, and cytokeratin 19 fragment compared to the community-acquired pneumonia group. There was no significant difference in procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and neuron-specific enolase levels between the groups. More instances of bronchial wall thickening (19.7% vs. 2%; P < 0.05) and stenosis (52.4% vs. 15.6%; P < 0.05) were observed in the post-obstructive group. In contrast, bronchial occlusion (65.5% vs. 7.8%; P < 0.05), intraluminal masses (47.5% vs. 7.8%; P < 0.05), and bronchial mucus embolism (31.1% vs. 2.9%; P < 0.05) were more prevalent in the community-acquired pneumonia group, which also showed a higher incidence of pulmonary consolidation and/or exudative changes. Pleural effusion and lymphadenopathy were present in both groups without a significant difference.
Subgroup analysis of patients with post-obstructive pneumonia
Bronchoscopy confirmed the presence of malignant tumors, hamartomas, or dysplasia in patients with post-obstructive pneumonia. Among these patients, the bilateral upper lungs were predominantly affected in 59.02% of 61 cases. Specifically, the right lung was involved in 39 cases (63.93%), with 21 (34.43%) in the right upper lung. And the left lung was involved in 22 (36.07%), with 15 (24.59%) in the left upper lung (Table 2 and Figure 1).
Bronchoscopy identified bronchial infiltration, stenosis, occlusion, and intraluminal neoplasms in the POP group, noting bronchial occlusion in 56 cases (91.8%), intraluminal neoplasms in 57 cases (93.44%), bronchial infiltration in 24 cases (39.34) and bronchial stenosis in 5 cases (8.20%). Pathology revealed squamous cell carcinoma in 52 cases (85.25%), adenocarcinoma in 3 (4.92%), hamartoma in 2 (3.28%), carcinoid in 2 (3.28%), small cell lung cancer in 1 (1.64%), and dysplasia in 1 (1.64%) (Figure 1).
Univariate logistic regression analysis was applied to statistically significant variables, with those showing P < 0.05 and OR > 1 progressing to multivariate analysis. This analysis identified elderly individuals, males, and CT imaging findings of bronchial obstruction, bronchial stenosis, bronchial mucus embolism, and intrabronchial shadows as independent risk factors for endobronchial tumors (P < 0.05) , as shown in Table 3.
The time from the first appearance of imaging abnormalities in CT to the diagnosis of endobronchial tumors through bronchoscopy is defined as the delay time. If an abnormality is reported by CT and immediate hospitalization or outpatient bronchoscopy is performed, the delay time is 0. We found that the average delay time in the POP group is 214.8 days (range: 0-1170 days). In the POP group, 34 patients (55.74%) had abnormal CT images in the past and did not undergo bronchoscopy, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Thus, prompt recognition of specified imaging characteristics is vital to reduce diagnostic delays. In the post-obstructive pneumonia group, bronchial occlusion imaging showed high sensitivity (65.5%) and specificity (92.2%). Sensitivity increased to 96.7% when combined with bronchial stenosis, but no significant enhancement was noted with other imaging features(Table 4).
Case presentation
A 68-year-old male experienced intermittent cough and fever for the past five days. Physical examination identified diminished breath sounds in the right lower lung. A chest CT on July 20, 2022, depicted a right hilar mass, right lower lobe atelectasis, nodules in the right main trachea and bronchus, and right lower lung inflammation (Fig. 2A). A bronchoscopy conducted on July 26, 2022, revealed a smooth neoplasm at the lower lobe bronchus ostium of the right lung (Fig. 2B), diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma through pathological examination (Fig. 2C). The patient underwent surgical intervention. A retrospective review of a chest CT from October 20, 2020, at a different facility showed narrowing at the right lower bronchial ostium (Fig. 2D), indicating a diagnostic delay of 644 days for this patient.
Table 1. Comparison of patient data between the POP group and the CAP group
Characteristic
|
POP group (n=61)
|
CAP group (n=102)
|
P Value
|
Demographics and comorbidities
|
|
|
|
Age, ya
|
69(58-80)
|
59(38-80)
|
<0.001
|
Body mass index, kg/m2a
|
21.58±2.45
|
22.11±3.27
|
0.282
|
Male sex
|
57(93.4)
|
48(47.1)
|
<0.001
|
Smoking
|
41(67.2)
|
15(14.7)
|
<0.001
|
Comorbidities
|
30(49.2)
|
60(58.8)
|
0.257
|
Clinical features
|
|
|
|
Cough
|
52(85.2)
|
94(92.2)
|
0.190
|
Sputum
|
42(68.9)
|
85(83.3)
|
0.034
|
Hemoptysis
|
16(26.2)
|
11(10.8)
|
0.016
|
Chest pain
|
14(23.0)
|
12(11.8)
|
0.049
|
Dyspnea
|
9(14.8)
|
15(14.7)
|
1.000
|
Wheezing
|
5(8.2)
|
9(8.8)
|
1.000
|
Temperature >37.4°C
|
9(14.8)
|
47(46.1)
|
<0.001
|
Laboratory features
|
|
|
|
C-reactive protein, mg/La
|
8.35(5.00-102.86)
|
36.96(5.54-94.63)
|
0.228
|
Procalcitonin, ng/mLa
|
0.25(0.09-0.25)
|
0.25(0.05-0.25)
|
0.013
|
White blood cell count, cells/µLa
|
7.93(5.62-9.03)
|
7(5.42-9.79)
|
0.325
|
Lymphocyte count, cells/µLa
|
1.34(1.11-1.94)
|
1.4(1.15-1.78)
|
0.715
|
Neutrophil Count, cells/µLa
|
5.65(3.72-6.79)
|
4.54(3.09-7.22)
|
0.469
|
Platelet count, cells/µLa
|
228.5(196.50-315.75)
|
263(196-319)
|
0.907
|
Globular value, g/La
|
128.5(117.5-139.25)
|
126(112-135)
|
0.075
|
CEA, ng/mLa
|
2.73(2.03-4.62)
|
1.67(1.23-2.42)
|
<0.001
|
SCC, ng/mLa
|
1.59(1.91)
|
1.04(0.78-1.41)
|
<0.001
|
CYFRA21-1, ng/mLa
|
4.06(2.56-6.04)
|
1.98(1.55-2.89)
|
<0.001
|
NSE, ng/mLa
|
12.90(10.21-17.27)
|
13(10.91-15.19)
|
0.853
|
Radiographic features
|
|
|
|
Consolidation
|
7(11.5)
|
46(45.1)
|
<0.001
|
Exudation
|
30(49.2)
|
90(88.2)
|
<0.001
|
Emphysema
|
8(13.11)
|
1(1.0)
|
0.002
|
Bronchial wall thickening
|
12(19.7)
|
2(2.0)
|
<0.001
|
Bronchial occlusion
|
40(65.6)
|
8(7.8)
|
<0.001
|
Bronchial-stenosis
|
32(52.5)
|
16(15.7)
|
<0.001
|
Atelectasis
|
7(11.5)
|
7(6.9)
|
0.388
|
Bronchial mucus embolism
|
19(31.1)
|
3(2.9)
|
<0.001
|
Shadow in the lumen of the bronchi
|
29(47.5)
|
8(7.8)
|
<0.001
|
Pleural effusion
|
2(3.3)
|
10(9.8)
|
0.213
|
Lymphadenectasis
|
15(24.6)
|
34(33.3)
|
0.291
|
Data are shown as No. (%) of patients and refer to values at the time of admission, unless stated otherwise.
Abbreviations: CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma antigen; CYFRA21-1, cytokeratin 19 fragment; NSE, neuron-specific enolase.
a Median (interquartile range).
Table 2. Bronchoscopic findings in the POP group
Site
|
POP group (n=61) (n,%)
|
Right upper lobe
|
Anterior segment
|
8,13.11%
|
Apical segment
|
6,9.84%
|
Posterior segment
|
7,11.48%
|
|
Right middle lobar bronchus
|
1,1.64%
|
Right inferior lobe
|
Dorsal segment
|
8,13.11%
|
Basal segment
|
9,14.75%
|
Left upper lobe
|
Anterior segment
|
8,13.11%
|
Intrinsic bronchus
|
6,9.83%
|
Left upper lobe
|
Lingular bronchi
|
1,1.64%
|
Left inferior lobe
|
Basal segment
|
5,8.20%
|
Dorsal segment
|
2,3.28%
|
Table 3. Risk factors of endobronchial tumor complicated with POP
|
Index
|
Single factor OR
|
P Value
|
Multiple factor OR
|
P Value
|
Demographics
|
Gender
|
16.03
|
<0.001
|
12.335
|
0.014
|
Age
|
1.088
|
<0.001
|
1.289
|
0.011
|
Smoking history
|
1.078
|
<0.001
|
1.034
|
0.072
|
Laboratory features
|
PCT
|
2.386
|
0.132
|
|
|
CEA
|
1.925
|
<0.001
|
1.195
|
0.495
|
SCC
|
1.425
|
0.011
|
1.034
|
0.904
|
CYFRA21-1
|
1.426
|
<0.001
|
1.248
|
0.181
|
Radiographic features
|
Consolidation
|
0.158
|
<0.001
|
|
|
Exudation
|
0.129
|
<0.001
|
|
|
Emphysema
|
15.245
|
0.011
|
14.253
|
0.065
|
Bronchial wall thickening
|
12.245
|
0.001
|
5.283
|
0.167
|
Bronchial occlusion
|
22.381
|
<0.001
|
61.349
|
0.001
|
Bronchial stenosis
|
5.931
|
<0.001
|
11.032
|
0.001
|
Bronchial mucus embolism
|
14.929
|
<0.001
|
20.858
|
0.013
|
Shadow in the lumen of the bronchi
|
10.648
|
<0.001
|
5.758
|
0.038
|
Table 4. Diagnostic value of single and combined imaging findings in endobronchial tumor
Radiographic features
|
Sensitivity (%)
|
Specificity(%)
|
Jorden index
|
Bronchial occlusion
|
65.5
|
92.2
|
0.577
|
Bronchial-stenosis
|
52.5
|
84.3
|
0.368
|
Bronchial mucus embolism
|
31.1
|
97.1
|
0.282
|
Shadow in the lumen of the bronchi
|
47.5
|
92.2
|
0.397
|
Occlusion/Stenosis
|
96.7
|
78.4
|
0.751
|
Occlusion//Shadow in the lumen
|
73.8
|
79.4
|
0.532
|
Occlusion/Shadow in the lumen
|
82.0
|
88.2
|
0.702
|
Sstenosis/Occlusion/Shadow in the lumen
|
98.4
|
77.5
|
0.759
|
Stenosis/Occlusion/Bronchial mucus embolism
|
98.4
|
78.4
|
0.768
|
Stenosis/Occlusion/Shadow in the lumen/Bronchial mucus embolism
|
98.4
|
77.5
|
0.759
|