Computer-Aided Diagnosis and Quantification in Chest CT

Abstract

With the advances of CT and computer technology, various applications for computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) and quantification have been developed to enhance the performance of radiologists. CAD provides tools to detect more nodules, to determine nodule malignancy by characterizing and measuring nodules, and to match nodules in follow-up studies. These applications will play an important role in the nodule management for lung cancer screening with low-dose CT. Parenchymal and airway lesions in chronic obstructive lung disease and diffuse interstitial lung disease can be characterized and quantified semiautomatically and this information can be used in phenotyping of disease, in explaining functional changes, and in clinical trials. However, users need to understand the limitations and measurement variability of these approaches.