Evaluation of a computer aided detection system for lung nodules with ground glass opacity component on multidetector-row CT

Purpose. TO determine the performance of a CAD system for lung nodules with ground glass Opacity Component Oil multidetector-row CT. Materials and methods. The CT examinations of 17 patients with at least one persistent subsolid nodule were reviewed. A First non-blinded consensus review by two expert radiologists resulted in the detection of 104 subsolid nodules larger than 3 mm (74 nodules of ground glass attenuation and 30 mixed nodules With solid and ground glass components). The results from this review were used as a gold standard to determine the performances of the CAD system and 3 independent clinical radiologists involved with the primary interpretations. Results. The sensitivity of the CAD system for the detection of ground glass opacities and mixed nodules Was 53% and 73% respectively. These values were not statistically different from the values for the 3 independent observers (42-66% for ground glass opacities and 63-80% for mixed nodules). The sensitivity of each observer significantly increased when the nodules detected by the CA D system were added to those detected by each observer (p<0.0001). Conclusion. A CAD system has a potential impact on the detection rate Of subsolid nodules by radiologists.