Results from The National Lung Screening Trial reported a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer mortality achieved through low dose computed tomography (CT) screening of the at risk population, compared to screening with chest x-ray.

Challenges with clinical implementation of CT screening for lung cancer include the high number of lesions detected that require further follow-up, approximately 97 percent of which are ultimately diagnosed as benign.

A computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tool can be designed to determine the probability of malignancy of a lung nodule based on objective measurements.

While current CAD tools examine the pulmonary nodule’s shape, density, and border, analyzing the lung tissue surrounding the nodule is an area that has been minimally explored.

Preliminary findings from researchers from the University of Iowa indicate that CAD can help distinguish between a benign and malignant lesion from the distinguishable features in the nodule and the surrounding tissue.

“CT mediated lung cancer screening in the most at risk patient population has significant potential to save lives, however there is widespread concern regarding the increase in follow up procedures and associated healthcare cost involved with following every identified small nodule, of which less than 5 percent will be determined to be cancer,” says Dr. Jessica Sieren, assistant professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa. “The CAD tool we have developed is unique in its designed applicability to small nodules less than 3cm, and preliminary findings show high potential to assist in early nodule diagnoses.”

Source: 15th WCLC