An experimental study of comparing digital tomosynthesis and multi-slice CT scanning for the detection of pulmonary nodules using the anthropomorphic chest phantom

Abstract

Objective To compare detection rate of pulmonary nodules and the radiation doses of digital tomosynthesis (DTS) and MSCT chest scanning by using the anthropomorphic chest phantom which contains thermoluminescent dosimeters ( TLD ) and simulated pulmonary nodules. Methods The radiation doses of DTS and MSCT scanning were measured by using the anthropomorphic chest phantom which contains 45 TLD and simulated pulmonary nodules.The radiation doses of najor organs were converted into effective dose ( ED ). Three radiologists of different clinical experiences independently reviewed and recorded the density,diameter and position of pulmonary nodules.The sensitivity of nodule detection by DTS and MSCT were compared by Fisher exact test and Chi-square test. The paired t test was conducted to analyze the dose levels of DTS and MSCT.Results The sensitivity of detection nodule by DTS and MSCT were 66.7％ (30/45) and 91.1％ (41/45) respectively.Statistically significant difference between the two examinations existed ( x2 =8.073,P ＜ 0.05).The sensitivity of detection - 650 HU ground glass opacity pulmonary nodule by MSCT and DTS were 93.3％ (14/15) and 73.3％ (11/15) respectively.There was no significant difference between DTS and MSCT ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The sensitivity of detection - 800 HU ground glass opacity nodule and ground glass opacity nodule (d ＜ 8 mm) by DTS were 33.3％ (5/15) and 16.7％ (2/12) respectively,which were lower than those by CT[80.0％ (12/15) and 66.7％ (8/12)].The radiation doses of DTS for various organs in the chest were lower than those of CT. Statistical significant difference between DTS and MSCT existed ( lung t =19.69,thoracic vertebral t =30.01,heart t =16.33,liver t =5.06,breast t =9.43,thyroid gland t =8.05 ;P ＜ 0.05).The effective doses of the DTS and MSCT were 0.65 and 7.71 mSv respectively.Conclusions There is no difference between the DTS and MSCT in the detection rate of -650 HU ground glass opacity nodule.For detecting the ground glass opacity nodule ( - 800 HU) and ground glass opacity nodule (d ＜ 8 mm),MSCT is superior to DTS. However,the radiation dosage of DTS is 8.41％ of the MSCT scanning. Key words: Phantom, imaging; Coin lesion, pulmonary; Tomography, X-ray computed; Radiation dosage