Background: The solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) is one of the most common findings on chest radiographs. The blood flow patterns of the biggest single SPNs level has been studied. This assessment may be only a limited sample of the entire region of interest (ROI) and is unrepresentative of the SPNs as a volume. Ideally, SPNs volume perfusion should be measured. The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the quantifiable parameters of SPNs volume perfusion imaging derived with 16-slice spiral CT and 64-slice spiral CT and nodules size.
Methods: Sixty-five patients with SPNs (diameter<=3 cm; 42 malignant; 12 active inflammatory; 11 benign) underwent multi-location dynamic contrast material-enhanced serial CT scanning mode with stable table were performed; The mean values of valid sections were calculated, as the quantifiable parameters of volume SPNs perfusion imaging derived with 16-slice spiral CT and 64-slice spiral CT. The correlation between the quantifiable parameters of SPNs volume perfusion imaging derived with 16-slice spiral CT and 64-slice spiral CT and nodules size were assessed by means of linear regression analysis.
Results: No significant correlations were found between the nodules size and each of the peak height (PHSPN) (32.15 Hu+/-14.55 Hu),ratio of peak height of the SPN to that of the aorta (SPN-to-A ratio) (13.20+/-6.18)%, perfusion (PSPN) (29.79+/-19.12) mLmin(-1)100 g(-1) and mean transit time (12.95+/-6.53) s (r =0.081, P =0.419; r =0.089, P =0.487; r =0.167, P =0.077; r =0.023, P =0.880).
Conclusions: No significant correlations were found between the quantifiable parameters of SPNs volume perfusion imaging derived with 16-slice spiral CT and 64-slice spiral CT and nodules size.