Comparative analysis of different diagnostic Methods: based on PET/CT in qualitative diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules / 中国介入影像与治疗学

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the qualitative diagnostic value of different Methods: based on PET/CT for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN). Methods: Data of 161 SPN patients who underwent PET/CT were collected. Clinical information, high resolution CT (HRCT) signs and maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) were compared between benign and malignant SPN patients. The mathematical diagnostic model of SPN was constructed by using binary Logistic regression, and the diagnostic efficiencies were compared among diagnostic model, PET/CT and HRCT. Results: Among 161 patients, malignant SPN were pathologically diagnosed in 131 cases and benign in 30 cases. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET/CT in diagnosing malignant SPN was 98.47% (129/131), 76.67% (23/30) and 94.41% (152/161), of HRCT was 59.54% (78/131), 83.33% (25/30) and 63.98%(103/161), respectively. After univariate and multivariate analysis, SUVmax, patient's age, calcification and tracheal vascular bundles were incorporated into the regression equation, and a model was then established. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the model for diagnosing malignant SPN was 82.44% (108/131), 86.67% (26/30) and 83.23% (134/161), respectively. The AUC of the model, PET/CT and HRCT for diagnosis of malignant SPN was 0.909, 0.876 and 0.714, respectively. The AUC of the model and PET/CT were both higher than HRCT (all P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the model and PET/CT (P=0.468). Conclusion: PET/CT-based Logistic regression model and PET/CT are better than HRCT in qualitative diagnosis of SPN, and the specificity of the model is higher than that of PET/CT.