Value of CT 3D-reconstruction in early diagnosis of small-sized lung cancer

Abstract

Objective To observe malignant signs of peripheral small-sized lung tumors of 1 cm or less in diameter by means of post-processing technique of CT scan,i.e.multi-plane reconstruction (MPR) and volume rendering (VR),and then,to compaie with what was displayed on the thin-section computed tomography (TSCT),so as to evaluate the value of MPR associated with VR in the diagnosis of peripheral small-sized lung tumors of 1 cm or less in diameter.Methods Retrospective analyses were made on the clinical pathological features and preoperative TSCT,MPR and VR images of 56 surgical patients with peripheral smallsized lung tumors of 1 cm or less in diameter who received operations and were confirmed to be tumor patients by pathology from January 2010 to December 2012 in our Research Center.Simple TSCT images and MPR associated with VR images were compared in the capacity to display malignant signs of peripheral small-sized lung tumors of 1 cm or less in diameter.Results MPR and VR technique could fully and clearly display the malignant signs of peripheral small-sized lung tumors of 1 cm or less in diameter.When compared with TSCT,MPR associated with VR had greater capacity in the distinction of lobulation,spiculation,acantha and pleural indentation of peripheral small-sized lung tumors of 1 cm or less in diameter.Conclusions MPR associated with VR had significant clinical value in the diagnosis of peripheral small-sized lung cancers of 1cm or less in diameter.It would provide a new strategy for early detection and early diagnosis of lung tumor. Key words: Lung tumor; Multi-plane reconstruction ; Volume rendering; Diagnosis