Volumetric data with a high-resolution CT algorithm in patients with pulmonary ground-glass opacity

Objective:To evaluate the clinical application of thin-reconstruction of volumetric data with a high-resolution algorithm in pulmonary ground-glass opacity.Methods:27 patients with diffuse pulmonary ground-glass opacity and 5 patients with focal pulmonary ground-glass opacity underwent MSCT and HRCT scans and volumetric HRCT reconstructions.Conventional HRCT scans and volumetric HRCT images were rated for image quality and diagnostic value in pulmonary ground-glass opacity.Results:In 27 patients with diffuse pulmonary ground-glass opacity,the total score values of volumetric HRCT and conventional HRCT were 52 vs 49.No significant difference was found in image quality between these two kind of images in this group(Z=-1.00,P=0.317).In 5 patients with focal pulmonary ground-glass opacity,the total score values of volumetric HRCT and conventional HRCT were 1 vs 0;and no significant difference was found in image quality between these two kind of images in this group either.Conclusion:Volumetric HRCT images allow a diagnostic approach to pulmonary ground-glass opacity as precise as that provided with conventional HRCT scans.Volumetric HRCT provided an easy and useful method for pulmonary ground-glass opacity.