Detection sensitivity of a commercial lung nodule CAD system in a series of pathologically proven lung cancers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance of a commercially available computer-aided detection (CAD) system in a series of pathologically proven lung cancers.


METHODS
Sixty-nine chest computed tomography (CT) scans obtained in 12 subjects (8 females, 4 males, age 51 to 75 y, mean 63 y) with 15 pathologically proven lung cancers were retrospectively selected from 2156 entry and follow-up CT scans from a lung cancer screening program. CT scans were retrospectively analyzed using a commercially available CAD system for detecting lung nodules.


RESULTS
When first detectable proven lung cancer nodules ranged in maximum diameter from 3 to 38 mm (10.4+/-9.2 mm) with CAD detection sensitivity stratified by size: 0/2 (0%) < or =3 mm, 5/8 (62.5%) 4 to 10 mm, 2/3 (66.7%) 11 to 15 mm, 0/0 16 to 20 mm, 2/2 (100%) >20 mm, and overall sensitivity 9/15 (60%). The sensitivity for all CT scans (first detectable and follow-up), stratified by nodule size as above, was, respectively, 0/2, 18/25, 24/28, 6/9, 5/5, and overall 53/69 (76.8%). Excluding nodules <4 mm and pure ground-glass nodules, the sensitivity for all CT scans by size was 18/24 (75%) 4 to 10 mm, 21/22 (95.4%) 11 to 15 mm, 6/6 (100%) 16 to 20 mm, 5/5 (100%) >20 mm, and overall 50/57 (87.7%). At resection (13) or biopsy (2) nodules were: adenocarcinoma (10), squamous cell carcinoma (3), and small cell carcinoma (2).


CONCLUSIONS
The CAD system showed good sensitivity for solid and semisolid cancers > or =4 mm (sensitivity 87.7%) and excellent for those > or =11 mm (sensitivity >95.4%).
Godoy
Myrna C B
MC
Department of Radiology, St Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. migbarco@gmail.com
Cooperberg
Peter L
PL
Maizlin
Zeev V
ZV
Yuan
Ren
R
McWilliams
Annette
A
Lam
Stephen
S
Mayo
John R
JR
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*