Pulmonary nodule CT

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maria Fernanda Villarreal, M.D. [2]

Overview

Computed tomography is the method of choice for the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule. On CT, characteristic findings of solitary pulmonary nodules, include: ground-glass opacity, rounded mass, and less than 30mm.[1][2] The evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodule will depend on 7 characteristics: calcification patterns, size, location, size, growth, shape, margins, attenuation, and contrast enhancement.[2]

CT

  • Computed tomography is the method of choice for the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule
  • On CT, characteristic findings of solitary pulmonary nodules, include:
  • Single intraparenchymal lesion
  • Less than 3 cm in size
  • Rounded or spicluated lesion

The evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodule will depend on the following characteristics:

Calcification

  • Calcification patterns are commonly seen in granulomatous disease and hamartomas
  • Characteristic calcification patterns of pulmonary nodule, include:
  • Diffuse
  • Central
  • Laminated
  • Popcorn

Size

  • Different size ranges of pulmonary nodule, include:
  • Nodules less than 4mm
  • Nodules between 4mm and 7mm
  • Nodules between 8mm and 20mm
  • Nodules more than 20mm

Growth

  • The growth pattern of the pulmonary nodule plays an important role in the management strategy.[3]
  • Nodule growth should be evaluated on a individual basis and based on the risk assessment score
  • A 4x growth is associated with a 50% risk of malignancy[3]

Shape

  • Polygonal
  • Spherical

Margins

  • Lobulated or scalloped margins
  • Intermediate malignancy probability
  • Smooth margins
    Associated with nodule benignancy

Attenuation

  • Different types of attenuation for pulmonary nodule, include:
  • Solid pulmonary nodules
  • Malignancy rate of only 7%
  • Calcified pulmonary nodules
  • Partly solid pulmonary nodules
  • Malignancy rate of 63%
  • Ground glass pulmonary nodules
  • Malignancy rate of 18%

Contrast enhancement

  • Contrast enhancement of pulmonary nodules may be useful to determine benign or malignant features
  • Benign pulmonary nodules usually have a contrast enhancement less than 15 HU

On CT, radiological signs of pulmonary nodule, include:

  • Corona radiata sign: highly associated with malignancy
  • Air bronchogram sign: airway surrounded by collection in alveolar spaces, non-specific sign
  • Halo sign: zone of ground-glass attenuation surrounding a pulmonary nodule or mass on CT images

CT Surveillance

According to the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) for the CT surveillance of pulmonary nodules, recommends the following:[4]

  • If less than 8 mm, use guidelines by the Fleischner society (see table below).
  • For nodules greater than 8 mm in diameter, assess the patients risk of complications from thoracic surgery:
    • If low to moderate risk for complications of surgery, assess probability of cancer by a validated calculation. The model developed at the Mayo Clinic has been the most extensively validated. An open-source version is available online.
    • If high risk for complications of surgery, assess probability of cancer by a validated calculation. If  low to moderate risk of cancer follow up with CT scan surveillance. If moderate to high risk of cancer obtain non-surgical biopsy.[5]
Fleischner Society guidelines for follow-up and management of nodules <8 mm
Detected incidentally at non-screening CT[6]
Nodule Size (mm) Low risk patients† High risk patients‡
<= 4 No follow-up needed Follow-up at 12 months. If no change, no further imaging needed
>4 - 6 Follow-up at 12 months. If no change, no further imaging needed Initial follow-up CT at 6 -12 months and then at 18 - 24 months if no change
>6 - 8 Initial follow-up CT at 6 -12 months and then at 18 - 24 months if no change Initial follow-up CT at 3 - 6 months and then at 9 -12 and 24 months if no change
>8 Follow-up CTs at around 3, 9, and 24 months. Dynamic contrast enhanced CT, PET, and/or biopsy Same at for low risk patients
† Low risk patients: Minimal or absent history of smoking and of other known risk factors.
‡ High risk patients: History of smoking or of other known risk factors

Gallery

References

  1. Rosado-de-Christenson ML, Templeton PA, Moran CA (1994). "Bronchogenic carcinoma: radiologic-pathologic correlation". Radiographics. 14 (2): 429–46, quiz 447–8. doi:10.1148/radiographics.14.2.8190965. PMID 8190965.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Parker MS, Chasen MH, Paul N (2009). "Radiologic signs in thoracic imaging: case-based review and self-assessment module". AJR Am J Roentgenol. 192 (3 Suppl): S34–48. doi:10.2214/AJR.07.7081. PMID 19234288.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Ko JP, Berman EJ, Kaur M, Babb JS, Bomsztyk E, Greenberg AK, Naidich DP, Rusinek H (2012). "Pulmonary Nodules: growth rate assessment in patients by using serial CT and three-dimensional volumetry". Radiology. 262 (2): 662–71. doi:10.1148/radiol.11100878. PMC 3267080. PMID 22156993.
  4. Gould MK, Donington J, Lynch WR, Mazzone PJ, Midthun DE, Naidich DP; et al. (2013). "Evaluation of individuals with pulmonary nodules: when is it lung cancer? Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines". Chest. 143 (5 Suppl): e93S–120S. doi:10.1378/chest.12-2351. PMC 3749714. PMID 23649456.
  5. Swensen SJ, Silverstein MD, Ilstrup DM, Schleck CD, Edell ES (1997). "The probability of malignancy in solitary pulmonary nodules. Application to small radiologically indeterminate nodules". Arch Intern Med. 157 (8): 849–55. PMID 9129544.
  6. MacMahon H, Austin JH, Gamsu G, Herold CJ, Jett JR, Naidich DP; et al. (2005). "Guidelines for management of small pulmonary nodules detected on CT scans: a statement from the Fleischner Society". Radiology. 237 (2): 395–400. doi:10.1148/radiol.2372041887. PMID 16244247.

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