title: [Differentiation of solitary pulmonary coin lesions by high-resolution computerized tomography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this prospective study was not to describe individual morphological findings in benign and malignant solitary intrapulmonary nodules; it was instead to examine in a critical manner the indications for differentiation found in the literature in order to facilitate safe differential diagnosis of benign and malignant nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 64 solitary pulmonary nodules were examined with high-resolution computed tomography and correlated with histological findings. Only lesions that had been removed by surgery were used. No lesion was excluded on the grounds of size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Useful characteristics for the differentiation of benign from malignant pulmonary nodules were: diameter and density of the lesion, air inclusion, unsharp and dystelectatic margin, the presence of spicules, length of spicules, spicules extending to the visceral pleura, pleural tail sign and cirumscribed pleural thickening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the differentiation of benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules meticulous assessment of the margin of the nodule is necessary. Using the criteria mentioned, a sensitivity of 85% and a specifity of 78% can be achieved for the identification of malignant pulmonary nodules. Since it was not possible to differentiate between benign and malignant nodules with certainty using imaging methods, the chance of patient survival could only be promoted by early surgery.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Seemann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beinert
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spelsberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Obst
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dienemann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kohz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*