Pulmonary nodules studied by computed tomography.

Abstract

Pulmonary nodules (177) were analyzed using thin-section computed tomography (CT), calculating the representative CT number (RCT #) from a computer printout. None of the 96 malignant nodules had an RCT # greater than 151 H. Of the 81 benign nodules, 14 were shown to be calcified by conventional radiography and had an RCT # ranging from 763 and 1023 H. Thirty had an RCT # greater than 200 H; this included 24 which showed no calcification on conventional tomograms. The remaining 37 benign nodules had an RCT # less than 200 H; 6 of them were hamartomas, including 2 which were diagnosed as such due to their fat content.