The aim of our study was to evaluate the capability of Digital Tomosynthesis in the detection of pulmonary ground glass nodules using an anthropomorphic phantom, similar in density and structure to the human chest.Lung lesions were simulated thanks to the insertion of synthetic nodules.

Theevaluation was performed based on the guidelines of Fleischner Society whichconsider both density and size of ground glass nodules. Thesecan be the expression of benign conditions (organizing pneumonia, focal fibrosis, areas of inflammation or bleeding), pre-invasive lesions, such as atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) or adenocarcinoma in situ and, less frequently, pulmonary metastasis (1,2,3).According to these guidelines, no follow up is required for pure ground glass nodules of size< 6 mm, while for pure ground glass nodules of size≥ 6 mm, a CT scan has to...

Ground glass nodules located in the apex and in the basal regions were better recognized (from a score 2 to a score 3) passing from a Dose Rateo of 10 to a Dose Rateo of 15, while a further increase at a Dose Rateo of 25 did not privide a further increase in nodule's conspicuity (Fig.7). Ground glass nodules located in the hilar region were not visible even with a higher Dose Rateo (score 1). Intermediate density nodules did not show a significant increase in...

Our study demonstrated that by increasing the Dose Rateo from 15 to 25 we obtained an increase in the conspicuity of ground glass nodules localized in the apical and basal regions of the lung, while the pure ground glass nodules localized in the peri-hilar region were not visible. The intermediate density nodules were still visible even with a Dose Rateo of 10. The increase in kVp, from 105 to 125, did not modify the visibility of the nodules. Finally, the pure ground glass nodules can...

Elisa Baratella, MD; Federica Arban, MD; Irene Campo, MD; Elena Serena, MD; Maria Assunta Cova, MD. Department of Radiology, University of Trieste; Italy. Emilio Quaia, MD. University of Edinburgh; United Kingdom.

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