Solitary pulmonary nodules: a comparative study evaluated with contrast-enhanced dynamic MR imaging and CT.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this prospective study was to compare the diagnostic performances of dynamic MR imaging and CT for the differentiation of benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs).


METHODS
Eighty-one patients with SPNs (32 malignant, 49 benign) underwent dynamic MR imaging (n=31), dynamic CT (n=27), or both (n=23). The degree of peak enhancement of benign and malignant SPNs was compared on both dynamic MR imaging and CT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic performances of dynamic MR imaging and CT.


RESULTS
The malignant SPNs revealed significantly greater degrees of peak enhancement on dynamic MR imaging (mean +/- SD [p%SI] 131.2 +/- 46.1 versus 54.2 +/- 45.3; range [p%SI] 82.6-260.0 versus -0.7-171.7; P <0.0001) and CT (mean +/- SD [DMI] 37.8 +/- 15.1 versus 17.9 +/- 21.8; range [DMI] 14.1-68.2 versus -5.4-107.6; P=0.0004). Although dynamic MR imaging was somewhat superior to dynamic CT, the diagnostic performances of the 2 modalities based on ROC analysis were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic MR imaging and CT seem to be equally well suited for the differentiation between benign and malignant SPNs.
Kim
Jeong Ho
JH
Department of Radiology, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Hyung-Jin
HJ
Lee
Kyung-Hee
KH
Kim
Kwang Ho
KH
Lee
Hong Lyeol
HL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007472:Iohexol; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA