Dynamic contrast enhanced computed tomography in malign-benign differentiation of solitary pulmonary nodules

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of dynamic contrast enhanced computed tomography to malign-benign differentiation of solitary pulmonary nodules. Dynamic contrast enhanced computed tomography obtained at a single level was performed in 49 patients (33 malign, 16 benign) with pulmonary nodules. The difference between the highest contrast enhancement values before and after contrast material injection was calculated as the enhancement value. The correlation between mean enhancement values of malignant and benign nodules was evaluated. Statistically significant difference was found between the mean enhancement values of malign and benign nodules (p < 0.001). When the enhancement value over 20 Hounsfield Unite is accepted as the border for malignancy, the sensitivity and specificity of the method were 90% and 91%, respectively. We suggest that dynamic contrast enhanced computed tomography can be useful in management of patients by supplying very important additional informations in malign-benign differention of pulmonary nodules.