Computed tomography quantitative analysis of components: a new method monitoring the growth of pulmonary nodule:

BackgroundThe estimation of the growth of solitary pulmonary nodules by using non-invasive methods is increasingly gaining clinical importance for performing the timely adequate treatment of these nodules.PurposeTo evaluate the application value of computed tomography (CT) quantitative analysis of components for dynamic assessment of the growth of solitary pulmonary nodules, and compare this approach with three-dimensional (3D) volumetric measurement of pulmonary nodules.Material and MethodsThe imaging data of 21 patients who had undergone multiple follow-up CT scans for solitary pulmonary nodules were retrospectively analyzed, and the total volume of pulmonary nodules and the percentage change in the total volume of pulmonary nodules after multiple follow-up CT scans were measured using 3D volume measurement software. The volume of solid components in pulmonary nodules was measured using CT quantitative analysis; the percentage change in the volume of solid components across examinations was calculated; ...