I Archives - The Lung Cancer Policy Network

Glossary

The glossary explains some of the words used across this website and covers some key cancer and research terms, which primarily focus on lung cancer.

Immunotherapy

Cancer treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It works by helping the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.¹

Impact evaluation

An assessment of the possible intended and unintended consequences of an intervention. It compares these consequences against the outcomes that would have happened with no intervention.²

Implementation study

A type of study which seeks to investigate the practical requirements of implementing an intervention in the ‘real world’. Implementation studies may or may not be randomised. For lung cancer screening, this may include how to improve recruitment and participation rates, improve the efficiency of a programme or ensure the quality of screening between different sites. Often the terms ‘implementation trial’ (or study), ‘pilot’ and ‘feasibility study’ are used interchangeably. Although definitions vary, they often share common research objectives.³ See also ‘Feasibility study’, ‘Pilot’ and ‘Randomised controlled trial’

Incidence

A rate-based measure used in epidemiology to understand the burden of a disease in a defined population and its change over time. It is expressed as the number of new cases of a disease per 100,000 people that are diagnosed within a specified time period.⁴ See also ‘Prevalence’

Incidental findings

Other diseases first discovered while an individual is undergoing a computed tomography (CT) scan for something else. For example, lung cancer may be detected through a routine chest CT, or a heart condition may be spotted during a lung cancer screening appointment.⁵ See also ‘Guidelines’ and ‘Incidental nodule management protocol’

Incidental nodule management protocol

A set of best-practice guidelines for how to clinically manage a person who underwent imaging for a reason other than lung cancer screening, and was found to have nodules in the lung.⁶ The protocol can be organised into three fundamental stages:⁷ (1) detecting, (2) tracking and (3) following up the incidentally detected nodule. See also ‘Incidental pulmonary nodule’, ‘Incidental findings’, ‘Nodule clinic’, ‘Nodule navigator’ and ‘Nodule’

Incidental pulmonary nodule (IPN)

A lesion in the lung measuring less than 30mm that is identified outside of screening or targeted imaging of the lung.⁷ See also ‘Nodule’, ‘Pulmonary’, ‘Incidental findings’ and ‘Incidental nodule management protocol’

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER)

A measure used in health economics to assess the value of a healthcare intervention. It is calculated by dividing the difference in costs by the difference in health outcomes. ICERs help decision-makers understand whether a new treatment provides good value for money compared with existing options.

References

Cancer Research UK. 2021. What is immunotherapy? Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/immunotherapy/what-is-immunotherapy [Accessed 10/08/2023]
Stern E. 2015. Impact Evaluation: A Guide for Commisioners and Managers. London, England: Bond
Abbott JH. 2014. The distinction between randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and preliminary feasibility and pilot studies: what they are and are not. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 44(8): 555-58
Global Lung Cancer Coalition. 2022. Glossary. Available from: https://www.lungcancercoalition.org/e-atlas/glossary.php [Accessed 04/03/22]
McNulty W, Baldwin D. 2019. Management of pulmonary nodules. BJR Open 1(1): 20180051
Morgan M, Weerakkody, Y. 2022. Lung-RADS Reference article (Radiopaedia.org), . [Updated 28/03/22]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-32681 [Accessed 11/04/22]
MacMahon H, Naidich DP, Goo JM, et al. 2017. Guidelines for Management of Incidental Pulmonary Nodules Detected on CT Images: From the Fleischner Society 2017. Radiology 284(1): 228-43