Faculty Collaboration Database

A practical algorithmic approach to the diagnosis and management of solitary pulmonary nodules: part 1: radiologic characteristics and imaging modalities. Chest 2013 Mar;143(3):825-839

Date

03/06/2013

Pubmed ID

23460160

DOI

10.1378/chest.12-0960

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84874984594 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   126 Citations

Abstract

The solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is frequently encountered on chest imaging and poses an important diagnostic challenge to clinicians. The differential diagnosis is broad, ranging from benign granulomata and infectious processes to malignancy. Important concepts in the evaluation of SPNs include the definition, morphologic characteristics via appropriate imaging modalities, and the calculation of pretest probability of malignancy. Morphologic differentiation of SPN into solid or subsolid types is important in the choice of follow-up and further management. In this first part of a two-part series, we describe the morphologic characteristics and various imaging modalities available to further characterize SPN. In Part 2, we will describe the determination of pretest probability of malignancy and an algorithmic approach to the diagnosis of SPN.

Author List

Patel VK, Naik SK, Naidich DP, Travis WD, Weingarten JA, Lazzaro R, Gutterman DD, Wentowski C, Grosu HB, Raoof S

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adenocarcinoma
Algorithms
Calcinosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Imaging
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Humans
Lung Neoplasms
Positron-Emission Tomography
Radiopharmaceuticals
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule
Tomography, X-Ray Computed