Low-dose ultrahigh-resolution PCCT enhances subsolid nodule characterization.

IF 4.8 1区医学 Q1 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

Radiologia Medica Pub Date : 2025-08-01 Epub Date: 2025-07-29 DOI:10.1007/s11547-025-02057-0

Qinqin Yan, Fuhua Yan, Qi Lin, Qiqi Cao, Yajie Zhang, Xiaoyan Chen, Bernhard Schmidt, Zhihan Xu, Wenjie Yang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize invasion-associated CT features in pulmonary subsolid nodules using low-dose ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) photon-counting CT (PCCT) images and evaluate UHR's diagnostic superiority over standard high-resolution (HR) images.

Methods: Patients with subsolid lung adenocarcinoma were recruited for chest scan on PCCT to obtain UHR and standard HR images between November 2023 and May 2024. Nodule characteristics were visually assessed and histogram features were extracted from each nodule. Image quality and radiation dose at previous energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) of 30 patients were compared with those of PCCT. Differences between UHR and standard HR, PCCT and EID-CT were compared using paired McNemar-test or paired Wilcox-test.

Results: One hundred and eighty-four patients with 203 subsolid nodules were collected including 77 precursors, 77 minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and 49 IA. UHR significantly outperformed standard HR in revealing CT findings including larger nodular diameter and solid-component diameter, more frequency of heterogeneous attenuation, lobulation, bubble-like sign, air bronchogram, pleural indentation and vascular sign (all P < 0.05). Additionally, UHR images exhibited significantly greater value in histogram-derived parameters compared to standard HR images (all P < 0.05), except for "Median," "Minimum." Furthermore, the radiation dose in PCCT was half of that in EID-CT (effective dose: 1.32 ± 0.27 vs. 3.85 ± 1.65/mSv, P < 0.001. CDTI_vol: 2.97 ± 0.53 vs. 6.90 ± 2.97/mGy, P < 0.001), with image quality significantly better in PCCT.

Conclusion: The UHR protocol on PCCT provides a magnified perspective to reveal CT characteristics of invasive growth in subsolid LUAD, previously undetectable on standard HR images, achieving halved radiation dose and better image quality than EID-CT.

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低剂量超高分辨率PCCT增强了亚实性结节的表征。

目的：利用低剂量超高分辨率（UHR）光子计数CT （PCCT）图像表征肺亚实性结节的侵袭相关CT特征，并评估UHR相对于标准高分辨率（HR）图像的诊断优势。方法：选取2023年11月至2024年5月期间肺实下腺癌患者行PCCT胸部扫描，获取UHR和标准HR图像。直观评估结节特征，提取每个结节的直方图特征。对30例患者既往能量积分CT （EID-CT）图像质量和辐射剂量与PCCT进行比较。采用配对mcnemar检验或配对wilcox检验比较UHR与标准HR、PCCT与EID-CT的差异。结果：共收集到184例203例实下结节，其中前体77例，微创腺癌77例，微创腺癌49例。UHR在显示更大的结节直径和固体成分直径、更多的非均匀衰减、分叶化、泡状征象、支气管充气征、胸膜压陷和血管征象等CT表现方面明显优于标准HR （P vol: 2.97±0.53 vs. 6.90±2.97/mGy， P）。PCCT上的UHR方案提供了一个放大的视角来显示亚实性LUAD侵袭性生长的CT特征，以前在标准HR图像上无法检测到，辐射剂量减半，图像质量优于id -CT。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Radiologia Medica 医学-核医学

CiteScore

14.10

自引率

7.90%

发文量

133

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Felice Perussia founded La radiologia medica in 1914. It is a peer-reviewed journal and serves as the official journal of the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM). The primary purpose of the journal is to disseminate information related to Radiology, especially advancements in diagnostic imaging and related disciplines. La radiologia medica welcomes original research on both fundamental and clinical aspects of modern radiology, with a particular focus on diagnostic and interventional imaging techniques. It also covers topics such as radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, radiobiology, health physics, and artificial intelligence in the context of clinical implications. The journal includes various types of contributions such as original articles, review articles, editorials, short reports, and letters to the editor. With an esteemed Editorial Board and a selection of insightful reports, the journal is an indispensable resource for radiologists and professionals in related fields. Ultimately, La radiologia medica aims to serve as a platform for international collaboration and knowledge sharing within the radiological community.