New data in staging and prognosis of bronchopulmonary carcinoma. Part II: volumetric analysis of pulmonary nodules

Octavian Ioachimescu, M.D.*, Emil Corlan, M.D.**

*Emory University, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, **Institutul National de Pneumologie Marius Nasta,

Abstract

Pulmonary nodules discovered incidentally or in the context of the work-up for symptomatic conditions represent an area of major interest. By definition, a pulmonary nodule is defined as a well-circumscribed round or oval lesion, measuring less than 3 cm in maximal diameter. The impact of newer technologies on our capacity to detect pulmonary nodules has increased significantly in the last decade, from the utilization of more performant computed tomographic (CT) scanners, to the development of more functional imaging techniques, such positron emission tomography (PET) scanners. The latter still has a suboptimal resolution for subcentrimetric nodules, hence the use of high-resolution, multi-detector CT scanners has become a more frequent clinical problem for these nodules. In this review we describe the latest developments in the CT technology, such as volumetric reconstruction and characterization of the pulmonary nodules and how this can impact the modern diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

Contact: oioac@yahoo.com, emil@corlan.net