Effect of nodule characteristics on variability of semiautomated volume measurements in pulmonary nodules detected in a lung cancer screening program.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively assess volume measurement variability in solid pulmonary nodules (volume, 15-500 mm(3)) detected at lung cancer screening and to quantify the independent effects of nodule morphology, size, and location.


METHODS
This retrospective study was a substudy of the screening program that was approved by the Dutch Ministry of Health, and all participants provided written informed consent. Two independent readers used semiautomated software to measure the volume of pulmonary nodules detected in 6774 participants aged 50-75 years (5917 men). Nodules were classified according to their location (purely intraparenchymal, pleural based, juxtavascular, or fissure attached), morphology (smooth, polylobulated, spiculated, or irregular), and size (<or=50 mm(3) or >50 mm(3)). The level of agreement was expressed by using the absolute values of the relative volume differences (RVDs). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, and odds ratios (ORs) were computed to quantify the independent effects of morphology, location, and size on RVD categories.


RESULTS
Altogether, 4225 nodules in 2239 participants were included. Complete agreement in volume was obtained for 3646 (86%) of the nodules. Disagreement was small (absolute value of RVD < 5%) for 173 (4%) nodules, moderate (absolute value of RVD >or= 5% but < 15%) for 232 (6%), and large (absolute value of RVD >or= 15%) for 174 (4%). Multivariate analysis showed that the ORs of volume disagreement were 15.7, 3.1, and 1.9 for irregular, spiculated, and polylobulated nodules, respectively; 3.5, 2.6, and 2.1 for juxtavascular, pleural-based, and fissure-attached nodules, respectively; and 1.3 for large nodules compared with smooth, purely intraparenchymal, and small reference nodules.


CONCLUSIONS
Nodule morphology, location, and size influence volume measurement variability, particularly for juxtavascular and irregular nodules.
Wang
Ying
Y
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
van Klaveren
Rob J
RJ
van der Zaag-Loonen
Hester J
HJ
de Bock
Geertruida H
GH
Gietema
Hester A
HA
Xu
Dong Ming
DM
Leusveld
Anne L M
AL
de Koning
Harry J
HJ
Scholten
Ernst T
ET
Verschakelen
Johny
J
Prokop
Mathias
M
Oudkerk
Matthijs
M
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*