[CT images in differentiating tuberculous nodules from lung cancers with diameters less than 2 cm].
OBJECTIVE
To find out the CT characteristics of tuberculous nodules and lung cancers with diameters less than 2 cm, and to evaluate their value in differentiating the two diseases.


METHODS
The CT images in thirty patients with tuberculous nodules and forty lung cancer patients with lesions less than 2 cm in diameter were compared.


RESULTS
Smooth or clear edge, non-lobulation, small cavity, calcification, pleural thicking and adhesion, satellitic nidus and perifocal inflammation were found predominant in tuberculous nodules with short-term dynamic changes in shapes, while shaggy border, shallow lobulation, vacuolus sign, air-bronchogram and typical pleural indentation were predominant in lung cancers without dynamic changes in shapes.


CONCLUSIONS
Thin-slice CT scanning can provide useful images, which by short-term observations are important for differentiating these diseases.
Zhou
X
X
Beijing Tuberculosis & Thoracic Tumour Institute, Beijing 101149.
Xie
R
R
Chen
J
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*