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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
A 3D Digital Model for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Nodules
Published on: May 19, 2023
Computer-aided detection for the identification of pulmonary nodules in pediatric oncology patients: initial
Emma J Helm1, Cicero T Silva, Heidi C Roberts
1Department of Radiology, Churchill Hospital, Old Rd., Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK. emmajhelm@hotmail.com
Background:
Computer-aided detection (CAD) has been shown to increase the sensitivity for detection of pulmonary nodules in adults. This study reports initial findings utilizing a CAD system for the detection of pediatric pulmonary nodules.
Objective:
To assess the performance of CAD and pediatric radiologists in the detection of pediatric pulmonary nodules.
Materials And Methods:
CT scans from a series of pediatric patients with known primary tumors and lung nodules were analyzed by four radiologists and a commercially available CAD system. IRB approval was obtained. Sensitivities were calculated for detection according to nodule size and location.
Results:
In 24 children (age 3-18 years) 173 nodules were identified. Overall the sensitivity of CAD was 34%, but the sensitivity of CAD for detection of nodules 4.0 mm or larger was 80%. Overall radiologist sensitivity ranged from 68% to 79%. There were 0.9 CAD false-positives and 0.3-2.4 radiologist false-positives per study.
Conclusion:
CAD in our pediatric oncology patients had good sensitivity for detection of lung nodules 4 mm and larger with a low number of false-positives. However, the sensitivity was considerably less for nodules smaller than 4 mm.
