cohort study, overall adherence to recommended follow-up care was 42.6%, with an increasing trend in adherence from Lung-RADS category 3 to 4B/4X (30–68%), and factors related to poorer adherence included Black race, male sex, and current smoking status. 153 Another study similarly noted that almost half of the patients had delayed follow-up care after positive findings (i.e., >30 days beyond recommended Lung-RADS intervals), and among those diagnosed with lung cancer, delayed follow-up care was associated with clinical upstaging. 154 Studies have documented higher rates of malignancy with increasing Lung-RADS category.
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