Repeatability of small lung nodule measurement in low-dose lung screening: a phantom study

Yu Du,Ya-Ning Wang,Gao-Feng Shi,Qi Wang,Hui Feng

doi:10.1186/s12880-020-00510-2

Yu Du, Ya-Ning Wang + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-020-00510-2

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Abstract

BackgroundLung cancer screening revealed that people with small pulmonary nodules are mostly asymptomatic and that some of these people are at risk of developing lung cancer, so we intended to explore the repeatability of small lung nodule measurement in low-dose lung screening.MethodsWe scanned eight ground-glass nodules (GGNs) and solid nodules, with diameters of 3, 5, 8, and 10 mm. They were divided according to the different combination schemes of tube voltage (KV) and tube current (mA) as 70, 80, 100, and 120 KV, and currents of nine tubes were divided as 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 mAs.ResultsCompared with the conventional dose group (120 kVp, 100 mAs), the nodule diameter and solid nodule volume measured by all scanning combinations were more consistent (P > 0.05), the volumes of 10 mm GGNs combinations were consistent (P > 0.05), the volumes of 8 mm GGNs were consistent (P > 0.05), the volumes of 5 mm GGNs combinations were consistent (P > 0.05), and the volumes of 3 mm were consistent (P > 0.05).ConclusionIn lung cancer screening, CT parameters should be as follows: tube voltage is more than 80 kVp, and tube current is 80 mAs in order to meet the requirements for the accurate measurement of the diameter and volume of pulmonary nodules.

Highlights

Lung cancer screening revealed that people with small pulmonary nodules are mostly asymptomatic and that some of these people are at risk of developing lung cancer, so we intended to explore the repeatability of small lung nodule measurement in low-dose lung screening
The results revealed that compared with the conventional dose group, the measured nodule diameters were in good agreement in all the other groups, and the measured nodule diameters were in good agreement in all the other groups
Compared with the conventional dose group, the measured nodule diameters were in good agreement in all the other groups, and the measured nodule diameters were in good agreement in all the other groups

Summary

Introduction

Lung cancer screening revealed that people with small pulmonary nodules are mostly asymptomatic and that some of these people are at risk of developing lung cancer, so we intended to explore the repeatability of small lung nodule measurement in low-dose lung screening. Lung cancer screening revealed that people with small pulmonary nodules are mostly asymptomatic and that some of these people are at risk of developing lung cancer [1]. The determination of the nodule follow-up and treatment plan during the lung cancer screening is not based on the actual size of the nodule in the surgical specimen, but on the size measured on the CT image and the changes before and after the followup [8]. The present study focuses on the measurement accuracy of low-dose CT for small nodules and determines how to consistently measure the average diameter and volume, in order to determine its size and change, rather than the measurement accuracy of the actual nodule size

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