Sensitivity and accuracy of volumetry of pulmonary nodules on low-dose 16- and 64-row multi-detector CT: an anthropomorphic phantom study
Open Access
- 14 July 2012
- journal article
- chest
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in European Radiology
- Vol. 23 (1), 139-147
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2570-7
Abstract
To assess the sensitivity of detection and accuracy of volumetry by manual and semi-automated quantification of artificial pulmonary nodules in an anthropomorphic thoracic phantom on low-dose CT. Fifteen artificial spherical nodules (diameter 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 mm; CT densities -800, -630 and +100 HU) were randomly placed inside an anthropomorphic thoracic phantom. The phantom was examined on 16- and 64-row multidetector CT with a low-dose protocol. Two independent blinded observers screened for pulmonary nodules. Nodule diameter was measured manually, and volume calculated. For solid nodules (+100 HU), diameter and volume were also evaluated by semi-automated software. Differences in observed volumes between the manual and semi-automated method were evaluated by a t-test. Sensitivity was 100 % for all nodules of >5 mm and larger, 60–80 % for solid and 0–20 % for non-solid 3-mm nodules. No false-positive nodules but high inter-observer reliability and inter-technique correlation were found. Volume was underestimated manually by 24.1 ± 14.0 % for nodules of any density, and 26.4 ± 15.5 % for solid nodules, compared with 7.6 ± 8.5 % (P < 0.01) semi-automatically. In an anthropomorphic phantom study, the sensitivity of detection is 100 % for nodules of >5 mm in diameter. Semi-automated volumetry yielded more accurate nodule volumes than manual measurements. • Computed tomography has become the definitive investigation of the chest. • Low-dose CT techniques have recently been introduced. • Low-dose CT is reliable for detecting spherical pulmonary nodules of >5 mm. • Semi-automated volumetry is more accurate than manual measurement for pulmonary nodules. • No difference in the accuracy of volumetry was found between 16- and 64- MDCT.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Preclinical multimodality phantom design for quality assurance of tumor size measurementBMC Medical Physics, 2011
- European and North American lung cancer screening experience and implications for pulmonary nodule managementEuropean Radiology, 2011
- Zone of Transition: A Potential Source of Error in Tumor Volume EstimationRadiology, 2010
- A resource for the assessment of lung nodule size estimation methods: database of thoracic CT scans of an anthropomorphic phantomOptics Express, 2010
- Management of Lung Nodules Detected by Volume CT ScanningThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2009
- Investigation of lung nodule detectability in low‐dose 320‐slice computed tomographyMedical Physics, 2009
- Noncalcified Lung Nodules: Volumetric Assessment with Thoracic CTRadiology, 2009
- Pulmonary Nodule Volume: Effects of Reconstruction Parameters on Automated Measurements—A Phantom StudyRadiology, 2008
- Small Pulmonary Nodules: Volume Measurement at Chest CT—Phantom StudyRadiology, 2003
- Trends in incidence and prognosis of the histological subtypes of lung cancer in North America, Australia, New Zealand and EuropeLung Cancer, 2001