Purpose
Pulmonary mass or lung cancer is the leading cause of mortality worldwide and is a strong economic burden [1]. The pulmonary mass can differ in origin, attenuation, shape, appearance, and size, which can determine the malignancy, growth rate, and doubling time of the mass [2, 3]. Therefore, the size and volume of the pulmonary mass play crucial importance in the differential diagnosis, treatment, therapy plan, and management [3].
With the inception of helical computed tomography (CT) scan in 1989, chest imaging has been dramatically advanced...
Methods and materials
Participants
A contrast-unenhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest was acquired at 120 kVp from 73 patients in 16 slices CT scanner. Two unenhanced datasets at 90 kVp and 140 kVp, scan range limited to the lung mass were also acquired. The patients with age greater than or equal to 50 years and with single or multiple pulmonary masses were only included.
CT Scan Technique
Volumetric breath-hold inspiration CT images were acquired from the participants from lung apex to the upper abdomen in supine...
Results
Total 73 patients, 43 (59%) male, and 30 (41%) female, mean age 61.26±7.65 years, range 50 to 79 were included in this study.
The mean values of the longest axial length were 3.25±0.75 cm at 90 kVp, 3.31±0.76 cm at 120 kVp, and 3.31±0.79 cm at 140 kVp respectively as shown in Figure 2. There was a statistically significant difference of the longest axial length of the pulmonary mass measured between 90 kVp and 120 kVp, and 140 and 90 kVp, whereas there was no...
Conclusion
To sum up, there was some variability in dimension and volume of pulmonary mass according to kVp. However, the results need to be correlated with clinical findings because the pulmonary masses might have different compositions and attenuation.
Limitations
There are several limitations to this study. The measurements were performed by a single individual. Hence, an inter-observer variability could not be calculated. The dimension and the volume of the pulmonary mass were measured manually. However, the automatic calculation could have augmented the results. Again, incorporating the...
Personal information and conflict of interest
K. Parajuli:
Nothing to disclose
S. Maharjan:
Nothing to disclose
b. twayana:
Nothing to disclose
A. Dangal:
Nothing to disclose
References
[1] J. A. Barta, C. A. Powell, and J. P. Wisnivesky, “Global Epidemiology of Lung Cancer,” Ann. Glob. Health, vol. 85, no. 1, p. 8, doi: 10.5334/aogh.2419.
[2] A. A. Bankier, H. MacMahon, J. M. Goo, G. D. Rubin, C. M. Schaefer-Prokop, and D. P. Naidich, “Recommendations for Measuring Pulmonary Nodules at CT: A Statement from the Fleischner Society,” Radiology, vol. 285, no. 2, pp. 584–600, Nov. 2017, doi: 10.1148/radiol.2017162894.
[3] K. Loverdos, A. Fotiadis, C. Kontogianni, M. Iliopoulou, and M. Gaga, “Lung nodules: A...