The relationship between lung cancer and hepatosteatosis in patients with biopsy-confirmed lung cancer diagnosis

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether hepatosteatosis is associated with lung cancer in patients undergoing lung nodule biopsy.

Methods: 359 patients (248 males, 69.1%) who underwent lung biopsy between the years 2016 and 2022 were included in this retrospective study. The average age of the patients was 64.59±14.05 (range=30-90) years. These patients were undergoing follow-up for a lung lesion and had undergone thoraco-abdominal CT scans. Attenuation measurements were performed on non-contrast CT scans from the liver and spleen parenchyma.

Results: Pathology results showed that the majority of diagnoses were malignant (n=265, 73.8%). Statistical analysis revealed a significantly higher number of patients with malignancy among those with hepatosteatosis compared to those without hepatosteatosis (73% vs. 57%, p=0.006). Furthermore, patients with malignancy were more frequently male (73 vs. 27%, p=0.010), older (65.80±12.83 years vs. 61.20±16.63 years; p=0.06) and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) (43.7 vs. 31.9%, p=0.046). Logistic regression analysis indicated that advanced age, DM, and hepatosteatosis were associated with an increased risk of malignancy (p=0.049, 95% CI (1.000-1.036), p=0.044, 95% CI (0.0347-0.98736), p=0.013, 95% CI (1.154-3.323), respectively).

Conclusion: The study findings suggest that hepatosteatosis might be associated with lung cancer. Therefore, due to its possible relationship with lung cancer, it should be taken very seriously, considering the chance of early diagnosis and treatment.