Multispiral computed tomography post3processing for refining diagnosis of diffuse lung diseases

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate ability of multispiral computed tomography (MSCT) post-processing techniques in diagnosis and differentiation of diffuse lung diseases (DLD). Methods . MSCT data of 261 patients with DLD were analyzed using 16- to 320-slice computer tomographs. Results . The lung tissue lesions were significantly extended in 151 patients (57.85%). DLD signs and symptoms were newly found in in 8 to 15% of the patients after MSCT post-processing only. MIP and MinIP post-processing algorithms improved the lung macrostructure visualization due to higher spatial resolution, allowed to distinguish vascular and nodular structures and to differentiate ground glass opacity and mosaic perfusion patterns in all the patients. Conclusion . Native MSCT post-processing is useful for initial diagnosis of DLD in 8 to 15% of patients, for determination the prevalence of pathological changes in 58%, and for better detection of the lesions in 100% of patients.