Dear readers,
The unexpected observation of pulmonary nodules at thoracic CT scan is quite frequently reported and is the consequence of the widespread use of this imaging technique combined with the increasingly high accuracy and precision of its diagnostic performance. Awareness of this occurrence and knowledge of the strategies to be implemented for the appropriate management of these incidental lesions should be strengthened and spread among radiologists and clinicians.
For this purpose, Dr. Anzidei’s review proposed in this Newsletter illustrates the most relevant CT features of pulmonary nodules for their effective characterization and evaluation. Furthermore, it provides the main recommendations from the international guidelines for the correct CT follow-up and management of patients with pulmonary nodules.
The scientific articles selected on this topic show that incidental findings can be encountered not only on chest CT, for example in breast cancer patients, but also as extracardiac findings on cardiac CT, and on whole-body CT performed in trauma patients.
Finally, the two clinical cases describe the evolution of a single case from the initial detection of pulmonary nodules on chest CT to the follow-up and management based on the international protocols.
Suggestions for topics to be covered in future issues of this newsletter are welcome as usual. Please send your ideas to us at editorial@mdct.net.
From the mdct.net team
