SPIRAL CT OF THE CHEST - COMPARISON OF CINE AND FILM-BASED VIEWING

PURPOSE: To determine radiologists' ability to find lung nodules on sp iral computed tomographic (CT) scans of the chest with both rapid sequ ential (cine) and conventional film-based viewing. MATERIALS AND METHO DS: Eight radiologists searched for lung nodules on spiral CT images ( 10-mm collimation, 10 mm/sec table speed) presented in two formats. Ci ne viewing was performed at a computer workstation; sections were view ed in 2-mm increments at frame rates up to 10 frames per second. Film- based viewing of images from a laser printer was performed with a ligh tbox; sections were viewed at 4-mm increments. Eight 3-5-mm-diameter s imulated nodules were superimposed on each of five normal CT scans. RE SULTS: Radiologists found a higher fraction of nodules with the cine p resentation than with film (mean, 0.69 +/- 0.02 [standard error] versu s 0.58 +/- 0.03, respectively [P = .006]). Diameter thresholds for nod ule detection (50% correctly localized) were 3.3 and 3.5 mm, respectiv ely. CONCLUSION: Cine viewing of spiral CT images of the chest improve d radiologists' ability to detect nodules.