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. 1996 Nov;201(2):447-55.
doi: 10.1148/radiology.201.2.8888239.

Lung nodule enhancement at CT: prospective findings

S J Swensen  1 , L R Brown, T V Colby, A L Weaver, D E Midthun
Affiliations

Lung nodule enhancement at CT: prospective findings

S J Swensen et al. Radiology. 1996 Nov.

Abstract

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.

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Comment in

  • Lung nodule enhancement at CT.
    Loftus WK, Kew J. Loftus WK, et al. Radiology. 1997 Jul;204(1):283. doi: 10.1148/radiology.204.1.283-b. Radiology. 1997. PMID: 9205265 No abstract available.