title: Clinical application of dual-source CT in the evaluation of patients with lung cancer: correlation with perfusion scintigraphy and pulmonary function tests.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was done to assess the diagnostic potential of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in the functional evaluation of lung cancer patients undergoing surgical resection. The CT data were compared with pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy and pulmonary function tests (PFTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were evaluated with DSCT, scintigraphy and PFTs. The DSCT scan protocol was as follows: two tubes (80 and 140 kV; Care Dose protocol); 70 cc of contrast material (5 cc/s); 5- to 6-s scan time; 0.6 mm collimation. After the automatic calculation of lung perfusion with DSCT and quantification of air volumes and emphysema with dedicated software applications, the perfusional CT studies were compared with scintigraphy using a visual score for perfusion defects; CT air volumes and emphysema were compared with PFTs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The values of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of DSCT compared with perfusion scintigraphy as the reference standard were: 0.88, 0.84, 0.90, 0.93 and 0.88, respectively. The McNemar test did not identify significant differences either between the two imaging techniques (p=0.07) or between CT and PFTs (p=0.09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DSCT is a robust and promising technique that provides important and accurate information on lung function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", V.le Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy. Francesco.fraioli@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fraioli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liberali
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liparulo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaccagna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciccariello
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Passariello
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media