Accuracy of automated volumetry of pulmonary nodules across different multislice CT scanners

Eur Radiol. 2007 Aug;17(8):1979-84. doi: 10.1007/s00330-006-0562-1. Epub 2007 Jan 6.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of an automated volumetry software for phantom pulmonary nodules across various 16-slice multislice spiral CT (MSCT) scanners from different vendors. A lung phantom containing five different nodule categories (intraparenchymal, around a vessel, vessel attached, pleural, and attached to the pleura), with each category comprised of 7-9 nodules (total, n = 40) of varying sizes (diameter 3-10 mm; volume 6.62 mm(3)-525 mm(3)), was scanned with four different 16-slice MSCT scanners (Siemens, GE, Philips, Toshiba). Routine and low-dose chest protocols with thin and thick collimations were applied. The data from all scanners were used for further analysis using a dedicated prototype volumetry software. Absolute percentage volume errors (APE) were calculated and compared. The mean APE for all nodules was 8.4% (+/-7.7%) for data acquired with the 16-slice Siemens scanner, 14.3% (+/-11.1%) for the GE scanner, 9.7% (+/-9.6%) for the Philips scanner and 7.5% (+/-7.2%) for the Toshiba scanner, respectively. The lowest APEs were found within the diameter size range of 5-10 mm and volumes >66 mm(3). Nodule volumetry is accurate with a reasonable volume error in data from different scanner vendors. This may have an important impact for intraindividual follow-up studies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Humans
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated / methods*
  • Phantoms, Imaging*
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Software
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed*
  • Tomography, Spiral Computed / instrumentation
  • Tomography, Spiral Computed / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / instrumentation