Lung nodule enhancement at CT: multicenter study.
Published
Journal Article
PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that absence of statistically significant lung nodule enhancement (< or =15 HU) at computed tomography (CT) is strongly predictive of benignity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred fifty lung nodules were studied. Of these, 356 met all entrance criteria and had a diagnosis. On nonenhanced, thin-section CT scans, the nodules were solid, 5-40 mm in diameter, relatively spherical, homogeneous, and without calcification or fat. All patients were examined with 3-mm-collimation CT before and after intravenous injection of contrast material. CT scans through the nodule were obtained at 1, 2, 3, and 4 minutes after the onset of injection. Peak net nodule enhancement and time-attenuation curves were analyzed. Seven centers participated. RESULTS: The prevalence of malignancy was 48% (171 of 356 nodules). Malignant neoplasms enhanced (median, 38.1 HU; range, 14.0-165.3 HU) significantly more than granulomas and benign neoplasms (median, 10.0 HU; range, -20.0 to 96.0 HU; P < .001). With 15 HU as the threshold, the sensitivity was 98% (167 of 171 malignant nodules), the specificity was 58% (107 of 185 benign nodules), and the accuracy was 77% (274 of 356 nodules). CONCLUSION: Absence of significant lung nodule enhancement (< or = 15 HU) at CT is strongly predictive of benignity.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Swensen, SJ; Viggiano, RW; Midthun, DE; Müller, NL; Sherrick, A; Yamashita, K; Naidich, DP; Patz, EF; Hartman, TE; Muhm, JR; Weaver, AL
Published Date
- January 2000
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 214 / 1
Start / End Page
- 73 - 80
PubMed ID
- 10644104
Pubmed Central ID
- 10644104
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0033-8419
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1148/radiology.214.1.r00ja1473
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States