PURPOSE: To determine if lung nodule enhancement measured with computed tomography (CT) is directly related to the likelihood of malignancy and to nodule vascularity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiologically indeterminate 7-30-mm pulmonary nodules were studied in 107 patients with malignant neoplasms (n = 52), granulomas (n = 51), and benign neoplasms (n = 4). Attenuation was recorded from serial thin-section CT scans before and after injection of contrast material. Twenty-four histologic specimens were graded after immunoperoxidase vascular staining with antibody to factor VIII-associated antigen. RESULTS: Malignant neoplasms were enhanced (median, 46.5 HU; range, 11-110 HU) statistically significantly more than granulomas and benign neoplasms (median, 8 HU; range, -10 to 94 HU) (P < .001). With 20 HU as the threshold for a positive test result, the sensitivity was 98%, specificity was 73%, and accuracy was 85% (prevalence of malignancy, 49% ¿52 of 107 nodules]). The degree of enhancement was statistically significantly related to the amount of central vascular staining (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Enhancement appears to be an indicator of malignancy and vascularity. These prospective findings corroborate previously reported results.
PURPOSE: To determine if lung nodule enhancement measured with computed tomography (CT) is directly related to the likelihood of malignancy and to nodule vascularity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiologically indeterminate 7-30-mm pulmonary nodules were studied in 107 patients with malignant neoplasms (n = 52), granulomas (n = 51), and benign neoplasms (n = 4). Attenuation was recorded from serial thin-section CT scans before and after injection of contrast material. Twenty-four histologic specimens were graded after immunoperoxidase vascular staining with antibody to factor VIII-associated antigen. RESULTS:Malignant neoplasms were enhanced (median, 46.5 HU; range, 11-110 HU) statistically significantly more than granulomas and benign neoplasms (median, 8 HU; range, -10 to 94 HU) (P < .001). With 20 HU as the threshold for a positive test result, the sensitivity was 98%, specificity was 73%, and accuracy was 85% (prevalence of malignancy, 49% ¿52 of 107 nodules]). The degree of enhancement was statistically significantly related to the amount of central vascular staining (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Enhancement appears to be an indicator of malignancy and vascularity. These prospective findings corroborate previously reported results.
Authors: D R Baldwin; T Eaton; J Kolbe; T Christmas; D Milne; J Mercer; E Steele; J Garrett; M L Wilsher; A U Wells Journal: Thorax Date: 2002-09 Impact factor: 9.139
Authors: L Cardinale; F Ardissone; S Novello; M Busso; F Solitro; M Longo; D Sardo; M Giors; C Fava Journal: Radiol Med Date: 2009-05-29 Impact factor: 3.469
Authors: Sandra Pauls; Andreas K Buck; Gisela Halter; Felix M Mottaghy; Rainer Muche; Christina Bluemel; Susanne Gerstner; Stefan Krüger; Gerhard Glatting; Ludger Sunder-Plassmann; Peter Möller; Hans-Jürgen Brambs; Sven N Reske Journal: Mol Imaging Biol Date: 2008-01-16 Impact factor: 3.488