title: [Usefulness of maximum intensity projections in low-radiation multislice CT lung cancer screening].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of non-overlapping 10-mm-thick axial maximum intensity projections (MIP) in the detection of pulmonary nodules in subjects participating in a lung cancer screening program (LCSP) using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) with a low dose of radiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 52 consecutive low-radiation MSCT studies in asymptomatic smokers included in an LCSP (1.25 mm axial images). Axial MIPs with 10mm slice thickness (30 images) were performed and evaluated retrospectively; readers were blind to the initial radiological report. All nodules detected were considered, regardless of their size or consistency. The standard of reference was determined by double reading and consensus for each nodule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 162 pulmonary nodules (mean size: 3.9 mm, sd: 1.7) were detected. MIP reconstruction detected 150 nodules (S = 92.6%). The initial radiological evaluation detected 108 nodules (S = 66.7%). MIP reconstruction detected 54 (33.3%) nodules that were not reported initially (mean size: 3.4 mm; sd: 1.2) but failed to detect 12 (7.4%) of the nodules reported initially (mean size: 2.91 mm; sd: 0.8). MIP detected all 35 nodules > or = 5 mm, (S =100), whereas the initial radiological evaluation only detected 27 (S = 77%). MIP reconstruction enabled more of the nodules to be detected than the 1.25-mm conventional axial slices (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduction of non-overlapping 10-mm-thick axial MIP reconstructions in a low-radiation LCSP using MSCT enabled nodules more accurate and faster detection of pulmonary nodules in comparison with 1.25 mm conventional axial slices.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiología. Clínica Universitaria de Navarra. Pamplona. España. bastarrika@unav.es
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bastarrika Alemañ
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Domínguez Echávarri
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Noguera Tajadura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arraiza Sarasa
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zudaire Díaz-Tejeiro
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zulueta Francés
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*