Variability of pulmonary nodule volumetry on coronary CT angiograms

This study aims to investigate the variability of pulmonary nodule (PN) volumetry on multiphase coronary CT angiograms (CCTA). Two radiologists reviewed 5973 CCTA scans in this cross-sectional study to detect incidental solid noncalcified PNs measuring between 5 and 8 mm. Each radiologist measured the nodules’ diameters and volume, in systole and diastole, using 2 commercially available software packages to analyze PNs. Bland-Altman analysis was applied between different observers, software packages, and cardiac phases. Bland-Altman subanalysis for the systolic and diastolic datasets were also performed. A total of 195 PNs were detected within the inclusion criteria and measured in systole and diastole. Bland-Altman analysis was used to test the variability of volumetry between cardiac phases ([−47.0%; 52.3%]), software packages ([−50.2%; 68.2%]), and observers ([−14.5%; 27.8%]). The inter-observer variability of the systolic and diastolic subsets was [−13.6%; 31.4%] and [−13.9%; 19.7%], respectively. Using diastolic volume measurements, the variability of PN volumetry on CCTA scans is similar to the reported variability of volumetry on low-dose CT scans. Therefore, growth estimation of PNs on CCTA scans could be feasible.