摘要
OBJECTIVE To evaluate solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) using quantitative-dynamic contrast-enhancedfunctional-computed tomography(CT); and to illustrate its clinical efficacy in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules.METHODS Eighty patients with non-calcified SPNs (diameter, 5-30mm) were studied with dynamic contrast-enhanced CT. Patterns of the time-density curves (TDC) were assessed. The precontrast density, peak height in density (PH: the maximum value of the TDC) and S/A ratio (the ratio of the PH of SPN to aorta) were recorded. Precontrast density and enhancement patterns of SPNs were also recorded. Perfusion of the SPNs was calculated.RESULTS Malignant, benign and inflammatory nodules showed quite different patterns in the TDC. The PH and S/A ratios of the malignant and inflammatory nodules were significantly higher than that of the benig nnodules (P<0.001; P<0.001), while no statistical difference of either the PH or S/A ratio was found between the malignant and inflammatory nodules. Precontrast density of the inflammatory nodules was lower than that of the malignant nodules (P <0.05). Both the malignant and inflammatory nodules showed significantly higher perfusions than that of the benign nodules (P<0.01; P<0.01). However, the difference between the peffusion of the malignant nodules and inflammatory nodules was not significant.CONCLUSION Dynamic contrast-enhanced functional CT can provide quantitative information regarding blood flow patterns of SPNs and proved to be an alternate non-invasive option in the evaluation and management of solitary pulmonary nodules.
