Data di Pubblicazione:
2009
Citazione:
In vivo repeatability of automated volume calculations of small pulmonary nodules with CT / C. Rampinelli, E. De Fiori, S. Raimondi, G. Veronesi, M. Bellomi. - In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ROENTGENOLOGY. - ISSN 0361-803X. - 192:6(2009 Jun), pp. 1657-1661.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the in vivo reproducibility of
automated volume calculations of small lung nodules with both low-dose and standard-dose
CT and to assess whether repeatability within each technique varies according to the diameter,
site, or morphology of the nodule or to percentage of emphysema.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Sixty-six subjects with 83 solid pulmonary nodules
between 5 and 10 mm in diameter were enrolled in this prospective study. Four consecutive
MDCT data sets, two low dose and two standard dose, were obtained for each nodule on
separate breath-holds during the same session. The volume of each nodule was calculated by
automated software. Repeatability was evaluated by Bland-Altman’s approach and the coefficient
of repeatability. Associations of the percentage of volume variation between two measurements
with nodule diameter, emphysema percentage, nodule site, and nodule morphology
were assessed by Spearman’s correlation coefficient and the Kruskal-Wallis test. A p value of
< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS. The range of variation of the volumes of pulmonary nodules between two
subsequent measurements was –38% ± 60% for low-dose CT and –27% ± 40% for standarddose
CT. No significant statistical association was found between variation in volume measurements
and nodule site, nodule diameter, nodule morphology, or emphysema percentage
by semiautomated calculation of lung density.
CONCLUSION. Automated volume calculations of small pulmonary nodules can significantly
differ between two subsequent breath-holds with both low-dose and standard-dose
CT techniques; in clinical practice we recommend that a volume variation of greater than
30% for nodules between 5 and 10 mm should be confirmed by follow-up CT to be sure that
a nodule is actually growing.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
CT; Lung cancer; Pulmonary nodules; Screening
Elenco autori:
C. Rampinelli, E. De Fiori, S. Raimondi, G. Veronesi, M. Bellomi
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