Accuracy of volumetry software in measurements of small lung nodules
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reproducibility of volumetry software in measurements of small pulmonary nodules
IRAS ID
254778
Contact name
Emily C Bartlett
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim is to assess how precisely commercially available software tools can measure the volumes of small lung spots on the lung (known as nodules) <150mm3 in size, from two consecutive low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans.
Previous studies in which nodules have been scanned twice in quick succession (i.e. on the same day) have demonstrated up to 25% variation in the volume of the nodule(95% confidence interval). This can only be due to variation between scans, as nodules would not normally grow/shrink over the course of one day. Experts think that for small pulmonary nodules, the difference in volume between 2 scans performed on the same day may be more than 25%. Only three previous studies have taken place, none of which have specifically looked at very small nodules (i.e. <150mm3).
Patients will be invited for this study from the Royal Brompton Hospital (RBH) respiratory clinics, and from a low dose CT screening case finding project also run from the RBH. All patients with a known solid lung nodule (80-150mm3), or who would be likely to have a small solid nodule (<150mm3) who would be having CT imaging for another reason (as part of their clinical care for asthma, for example) will be invited. Some of these patients will also have small pulmonary nodules <80mm3 which would not otherwise require repeat imaging. Patients will be offered two consecutive low dose CT scans on the same day, one of which will be part of their normal clinical care.
All imaging will be reported by volumetry software, and reviewed by doctors (radiologists). A statistical test (Bland-Altman) will be used to assess how similar the two measurements of the nodule are.
All imaging will be carried out at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
The study will last from December 2018-May 2020 (17 months).REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0202
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion