Dynamic CT imaging of volumetric changes in pulmonary nodules correlates with physical measurements of stiffness.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

A major challenge in CT screening for lung cancer is limited specificity when distinguishing between malignant and non-malignant pulmonary nodules (PN). Malignant nodules have different mechanical properties and tissue characteristics ('stiffness') from non-malignant nodules. This study seeks to improve CT specificity by demonstrating in rats that measurements of volumetric ratios in PNs with varying composition can be determined by respiratory-gated dynamic CT imaging and that these ratios correlate with direct physical measurements of PN stiffness.

Methods and materials

Respiratory-gated MicroCT images acquired at extreme tidal volumes of 9 rats with PNs from talc, matrigel and A549 human lung carcinoma were analyzed and their volumetric ratios (δ) d

SUBMITTER: Lartey FM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5319913 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature