[Differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules by using enhanced CT with iodinated contrast material]

To evaluate pulmonary nodules by using enhanced CT.

89 patients with pulmonary nodules included 63 pulmonary carcinomas and 26 benign pulmonary nodules. Thin-slice CT was performed before injection, 35 s, 2 min and 5 min after injection of 100 ml of contrast material at 2 ml/s. The maximum level of enhancement and the enhanced patterns were recorded.

Lung carcinomas enhanced significantly more than benign nodules. 27 lung carcinomas showed the sign of enhanced spots and twigs; 51 lung carcinomas and 4 benign nodules showed inhomogeneous enhancement; 3 lung carcinomas and 4 benign nodules had homogeneous enhancement; 5 tuberculomas and 1 inflammatory pseudotuma appeared ring enhancement; 12 tuberculomas showed nonenhancement.

Enhanced CT is a valuable method to differentiate pulmonary carcinomas from benign pulmonary nodules.