A new study shows that the estimated size of chest lymph nodes and lung nodules seen on CT images varies significantly.

"We were surprised that in both the lymph nodes and lung nodules there were cases in which the lower dose picked up lower lesion volumes as well as higher lesion volumes when compared to the higher dose scans," said Dr. Vettiyil. "We think that increased image noise (graininess of the image) on the lower dose scans may have caused the lesion volumes to vary so significantly," she said.
The goal of the study was to explore the possibility of using image processing tools to better delineate lesions at low radiation doses without missing any clinical information, noted Dr. Vettiyil. "The study indicates that radiologists can use these types of quantitative tools to supplement them in their measurements, but the use of such software measurements without the radiologist's clinical correlation might not be advisable at this stage," said Dr. Vettiyil.
The study will be presented April 17 during the ARRS Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
Source-Eurekalert