Scripta Medica (Jan 2021)

Of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in evaluation of lung nodule with histopathological correlation

  • Gupta Jagmohan,
  • Gupta Parul,
  • Gupta Suresh Chandra,
  • Tak Amit

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5937/scriptamed52-31903
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 52, no. 3
pp. 193 – 198

Abstract

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Background: Lung cancer is the most common and lethal cancer around the world. Computed tomography (CT) is an integral imaging technique for staging the lung cancer. Aim of this study was to correlate the multidetector CT (MDCT) findings of lung nodule with histopathological examination, as well as to assess the diagnostic accuracy of MDCT in evaluation of suspected lung nodule. Methods: One hundred patients with clinical or radiological suspicion of lung nodule referred for CT scan of thorax were included in the study. Histopathological analysis was performed. The location of the lesion was analysed and nodules were classified. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was done with spinal needle under all aseptic precautions. The results obtained by MDCT were analysed and compared with histopathological findings done by CT guided FNAC. Results: Average age of patients was 65 years, 25 % were females and 75 % were males. Among all the patients 66 % of lesions were located in right side lung and 34 % of lesions were left in location. Of all, 2 % patients had lesions less than 3 cm, 11 % patients had lesion between 3-4 cm, 19 % patients had lesion between 4-5 cm, 26 % patients had lesion between 5-7 cm and 42 % patients had lesion greater than 7 cm. Many of these patients also presented with enlarged lymph nodes, most commonly mediastinal (73 %) followed by subcarinal (51 %), hilar (44 %) and supraclavicular (4 %) lymph nodes. The most common histological findings of lung nodules analysis were adenocarcinoma (41 %). Among the 100 patients 58 % had lesions located peripherally while 42 % had central lesions. CT was a highly sensitive (95.45 %) and moderately specific (75 %) test and also had a high positive predictive value (96 %) to diagnose malignant lung nodule. Conclusion: CT guided FNAC of lung nodule is a safe, minimal invasive procedure with a high diagnostic accuracy. The use of CT-guided FNAC in hilar and mediastinal nodules can avoid unnecessary exploratory surgery for staging and also diagnosis could be made with lesser cost.

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