Application of CT Postprocessing Reconstruction Technique in Differential Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Solitary Pulmonary Nodules and Analysis of Risk Factors

Objective: To evaluate the application of CT postprocessing reconstruction technique in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules and analysis of risk factors.

Methods: A total of 150 solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) patients admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were selected and divided into the benign SPN group (n = 64) and the malignant SPN group (n = 86) according to pathological results. All subjects underwent CT plain scan and CT postprocessing reconstruction, and the general information of the subjects was collected. The diagnostic value of CT plain scan and CT postprocessing reconstruction techniques for benign and malignant SPN was compared; and the CT signs of benign and malignant SPN were compared, and the risk factors of malignant SPN were analyzed.

Results: The pathological results of this study showed that there were 64 cases with benign SPN and 86 cases with malignant SPN. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive rate, and negative predictive rate of CT postprocessing reconstruction technology in diagnosing malignant SPN were 73.44%, 89.53%, 82.67%, 83.39%, and 81.91%, respectively, which were higher than 56.25%, 65.12%, 61.33%, 54.55%, and 66.67% of CT plain scan, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in nodule location, nodule density, vacuole sign, vessel convergence, and pleural depression sign between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in age, nodule diameter, lobulation sign, burr sign, calcification components, and ground-glass components between the two groups (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥ 60 years, nodule diameter ≥ 15 mm, the presence of lobulation sign, burr sign, ground-glass components, and noncalcification components were independent risk factors for malignant SPN.

Conclusion: CT postprocessing reconstruction technique has high diagnostic value in the differentiation of benign and malignant SPN, age ≥ 60 years, nodule diameter ≥ 15 mm, lobulation signs, burr signs, ground-glass components, and noncalcification components are independent risk factors for malignant SPN.