Solitary pulmonary nodule: detection and management.
Pulmonary nodules are commonly detected at computed tomography (CT) of the chest. More than 95% are < or = 10 mm; of these more than 95% are benign. Visual detection of pulmonary nodules by human readers is suboptimal, particularly with small nodules < or =10 mm. Computer-assisted detection can improve sensitivity and diagnostic confidence. Due to the high proportion of malignant lesions in nodules >10 mm immediate, often invasive workup is required including contrast-enhanced dynamic CT, positron emission tomography (PET) or biopsy. However, in nodules < or =10 mm the high proportion of benign lesions requires a non-invasive work-up usually based on follow-up with unenhanced CT. Invasive procedures are only required for growing nodules. Stable nodules require further follow-up and decreasing nodules are considered benign.
Diederich
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Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Marien Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany. s.diederich@marien-hospital.de
Das
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D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D001706:Biopsy; D019090:Case Management; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D047368:Tumor Burden