Subcentimeter pulmonary nodules detected in patients with sarcoma

Abstract

Background. Subcentimeter pulmonary nodules are being detected with increasing frequency in patients with sarcoma due to the greater use of chest CT, the advent of helical (spiral) CT scanning and multidetector scanners, and the attendant decrease in image section thickness. Assessing the clinical significance of these pulmonary nodules is of particular importance in sarcoma patients, due to the frequent occurrence of pulmonary metastasis from sarcomas. Purpose. This article reviews the technical advances that have contributed to the increased detection of subcentimeter pulmonary nodules, statistics about subcentimeter pulmonary nodules and options for evaluating such nodules.