Quantitative MDCT analysis of pulmonary solid nodules using three parameters.

Purpose: The purpose of this prospective study was to perform quantitative multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) analysis of pulmonary solid nodules using three parameters (long-short ratio, compactness, and intranodular CT number) and to evaluate the usefulness of each parameter in the differentiation of the nodules.

Materials and methods: Seventy solitary pulmonary nodules with a long axis length of 5-30 mm were examined using one multidetector CT (MDCT) system and one three-dimensional (3D) system, and the findings regarding the three parameters were statistically analyzed among five diseases (hamartoma, organizing pneumonia, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and metastasis).

Results: The long-short ratio of the pulmonary nodule showed no significant differences among five diseases. The compactness showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in five pairs of diseases. Intranodular CT number showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in three pairs of diseases.

Conclusion: Our results are insufficient for the complete differentiation of pulmonary solid nodules. However, among the three parameters, compactness and intranodular CT number contribute somewhat to the differentiation of pulmonary nodules.