Differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules by using single-location dynamic enhanced CT

Objective: To study the clinical efficacy of differential diagnosis between malignant and benign solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) with single-location dynamic enhanced computed tomography (CT). Methods: Thirtynine patients were studied with single-location dynamic enhanced CT. Patterns of time-density curve were drawn. Peak height and increment of CT value were calculated. Results: Malignant and benign SPNs showed quite different patterns in time-density curve. Enhanced degree of pulmonary carcinoma [(41.9±2.8) Hu] was higher than that of the tuberculosis [(11.7±7.85) Hu], which had significant difference (P<0.01). However, here was no significant difference of enhanced degree between pulmonary inflammatory [(43.6±7.7) Hu] and pulmonary carcinoma SPNs (P>0.10). But the time-density curve of malignant SPNs tend to achieve rapid enhancement- to- peak attenuation and eventually reached a plateau. Inflammatory SPNs showed gradual enhancement without obvious attenuation. The curve of tuberculosis was placid. Conclusion: Single-location dynamic contrast enhanced CT is a non-invasive option and can provide quantitative information about blood flow patterns of SPNs.. (authors)