Gianluca Milanese1, Matthias Eberhard2, Katharina Martini3, Ilaria Vittoria De Martini4, Thomas Frauenfelder5. 1. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: gianluca.milanese@studenti.unipr.it. 2. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: matthias.eberhard@usz.ch. 3. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: katharina.martini@usz.ch. 4. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: ilaria.demartini@usz.ch. 5. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: thomas.frauenfelder@usz.ch.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether vessel-suppressed computed tomography (VSCT) can be reliably used for semi-automated volumetric measurements of solid pulmonary nodules, as compared to standard CT (SCT) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-three SCT were elaborated by dedicated software (ClearRead CT, Riverain Technologies, Miamisburg, OH, USA), that allows subtracting vessels from lung parenchyma. Semi-automated volumetric measurements of 65 solid nodules were compared between SCT and VSCT. The measurements were repeated by two readers. For each solid nodule, volume measured on SCT by Reader 1 and Reader 2 was averaged and the average volume between readers acted as standard of reference value. Concordance between measurements was assessed using Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC). Limits of agreement (LoA) between readers and CT datasets were evaluated. RESULTS: Standard of reference nodule volume ranged from 13 to 366 mm3. The mean overestimation between readers was 3 mm3 and 2.9 mm3 on SCT and VSCT, respectively. Semi-automated volumetric measurements on VSCT showed substantial agreement with the standard of reference (Lin's CCC = 0.990 for Reader 1; 0.985 for Reader 2). The upper and lower LoA between readers' measurements were (16.3, -22.4 mm3) and (15.5, -21.4 mm3) for SCT and VSCT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: VSCT datasets are feasible for the measurements of solid nodules, showing an almost perfect concordance between readers and with measurements on SCT.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether vessel-suppressed computed tomography (VSCT) can be reliably used for semi-automated volumetric measurements of solid pulmonary nodules, as compared to standard CT (SCT) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-three SCT were elaborated by dedicated software (ClearRead CT, Riverain Technologies, Miamisburg, OH, USA), that allows subtracting vessels from lung parenchyma. Semi-automated volumetric measurements of 65 solid nodules were compared between SCT and VSCT. The measurements were repeated by two readers. For each solid nodule, volume measured on SCT by Reader 1 and Reader 2 was averaged and the average volume between readers acted as standard of reference value. Concordance between measurements was assessed using Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC). Limits of agreement (LoA) between readers and CT datasets were evaluated. RESULTS: Standard of reference nodule volume ranged from 13 to 366 mm3. The mean overestimation between readers was 3 mm3 and 2.9 mm3 on SCT and VSCT, respectively. Semi-automated volumetric measurements on VSCT showed substantial agreement with the standard of reference (Lin's CCC = 0.990 for Reader 1; 0.985 for Reader 2). The upper and lower LoA between readers' measurements were (16.3, -22.4 mm3) and (15.5, -21.4 mm3) for SCT and VSCT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: VSCT datasets are feasible for the measurements of solid nodules, showing an almost perfect concordance between readers and with measurements on SCT.