Solitary pulmonary nodules: comparison of classification with standard, thin-section, and reference phantom CT.
Standard, thin-section, and reference phantom computed tomography (CT) were performed to evaluate 75 consecutive patients with solitary pulmonary nodules. Follow-up was available for 62 nodules in 59 patients; 53 of the nodules were benign and nine were malignant. Twenty-one of the 62 nodules were assessed as benign with thin-section CT, while 33 of the 62 nodules were assessed as benign with reference phantom CT. Two of the nodules classified as benign with both thin-section and reference phantom CT proved to be malignant (a peripheral, ossified carcinoid and a 3.5-cm-diameter calcified carcinoma). The sensitivity of reference phantom CT (58%) for classification of benign nodules was higher than the sensitivity of thin-section CT (36%). The sensitivity of standard CT was lowest (12%). The presence of fat at thin-section CT was a reliable criterion for benignancy in six hamartomas. While both thin-section and reference phantom CT were useful in the identification of benign pulmonary nodules, reference phantom CT increased sensitivity by 22% compared with thin-section CT.
Khan
A
A
Department of Radiology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New Hyde Park, NY 11042.
Herman
P G
PG
Vorwerk
P
P
Stevens
P
P
Rojas
K A
KA
Graver
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008961:Models, Structural; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods