title: Accuracy of computed tomography in diagnosing malignancy in solitary pulmonary lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate accuracy of Computed Tomography (CT) for diagnosing malignancy in solitary pulmonary lesions (SPLs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 20-01-2007 to 30-06-2008 at the Radiology department, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi. Fifty-three patients with solitary pulmonary lesions (SPLs) seen in prior chest x-rays or chest CT scans were referred to radiology department for CT guided biopsy. CT scan was performed for each patient prior to biopsy and CT evaluation of the SPLs was performed followed by CT guided Biopsy. Histopathological diagnosis of the lesion was taken as the gold standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CT was found to be 100% sensitive, 30% specific and 87% accurate for diagnosing malignancy in solitary pulmonary lesions while PPV and NPV were 86% and 100% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT scan is highly sensitive yet non-specific and cannot be used as the definitive diagnostic modality for diagnosing malignancy in solitary pulmonary lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.lastname: Imaad-ur-Rehman
authors.forename: Wasim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Yousuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Husen
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Raafay
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sophie
authors.forename: Muhammad Akbar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Baig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult