title: Coronal multiplanar reconstruction view from isotropic voxel data sets obtained with multidetector-row CT: assessment of detection and size of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the detection and size of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes by multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) view from isotropic voxel data sets obtained with multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thin-section CT of 27 patients with mediastinal or hilar lymph node swelling was obtained with a 25.6-cm FOV, 512 x 512 matrix, and two protocols: A) 0.5-mm collimation, 0.3-mm interval, and B) 2-mm collimation, 1-mm interval. MPR views with a 0.5-mm slice thickness were obtained from these two data sets. Postcontrast axial CT used 5-mm collimation (set C). Two observers evaluated the presence and cranio-caudal length of swollen lymph nodes. Two other board-certified chest radiologists evaluated all three sets and established a gold standard by consensus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The accuracy of detection was 76%, 73%, and 68% for sets A, B, and C, respectively. There was a significant difference between sets A and C (McNemar's test: p<0.05) but not between sets A and B or B and C (p>0.05). The cranio-caudal length of lymph nodes was significantly correlated with the gold standard only in set A (Pearson's correlation coefficient: r=0.53, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-contrast enhanced coronal MPR views constructed from isotropic voxel data sets may be substituted for axial enhanced CT for the evaluation of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kozuka
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomiyama
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johkoh
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Seiki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed