Repeatability of small lung nodule measurement in low-dose lung screening: a phantom study

Background Lung cancer screening revealed that people with small pulmonary nodules are mostly asymptomatic and that some of these people are at risk of developing lung cancer, so we intended to explore the repeatability of small lung nodule measurement in low-dose lung screening. Methods We scanned eight ground-glass nodules (GGNs) and solid nodules, with diameters of 3, 5, 8, and 10 mm. They were divided according to the different combination schemes of tube voltage (KV) and tube current (mA) as 70, 80, 100, and 120 KV, and currents of nine tubes were divided as 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 mAs. Results Compared with the conventional dose group (120 kVp, 100 mAs), the nodule diameter and solid nodule volume measured by all scanning combinations were more consistent (P > 0.05), the volumes of 10 mm GGNs combinations were consistent (P > 0.05), the volumes of 8 mm GGNs were consistent (P > 0.05), the volumes of 5 mm GGNs combinations were consistent (P > 0.05), and the volumes of 3 mm were consistent (P > 0.05). Conclusion In lung cancer screening, CT parameters should be as follows: tube voltage is more than 80 kVp, and tube current is 80 mAs in order to meet the requirements for the accurate measurement of the diameter and volume of pulmonary nodules.