Tomosynthesis Application More Sensitive Than Chest X-Ray Detecting Lung Nodules

A new tomosynthesis tool provides enhanced detection and management of lung cancer patients and is 7.5 times more sensitive than chest X-ray without decreased specificity in identifying patients who require follow-up.

GE Healthcare’s (Chalfont St. Giles, UK) new clinical application for its fixed radiographic system, VolumeRAD, offers improved detection and management of patients with lung nodules compared to conventional X-ray imaging of the chest. As the first thoracic radiographic tomosynthesis product with a specific indication, this application is designed to improve the detection of lung nodules and the subsequent management of patients.

VolumeRAD provides physicians with multiple high-resolution slice images of the anatomy of interest, including the chest, abdomen, extremities, and spine. This clinical feature is a method of acquiring a series of low-dose projection images during a single sweep of the X-ray tube over a limited angle.

“We are very excited by these results that clearly show the benefit of radiographic tomosynthesis vs conventional X-ray,” said Michelle Edler, general manager of radiology and fluoroscopy for GE’s detection and guidance solutions business. “Customers who use this technology will be able to detect more, and will benefit 360% greater sensitivity without any reduction in specificity, for lung nodules 3–20 mm in diameter. The potential of VolumeRAD as a high-quality, cost-effective, and low dose imaging alternative for lung nodule detection is massive.”

Dr Gautham Reddy, professor of radiology and vice chair for education and director of thoracic imaging in the department of radiology at the University of Washington (Seattle, USA) believes VolumeRAD can offer an intermediate solution for patient care. “Rather than simply getting a CT, we can do a VolumeRAD to verify whether it’s a nodule or not. [For] something that has low likelihood of being a nodule, VolumeRAD will probably exclude the possibility of a nodule and there won’t be as much radiation,” said Dr. Reddy. “That is one of the reasons why VolumeRAD would be helpful. We could get more information than with a [radiograph and] without as much radiation as a CT.”

VolumeRAD generates diagnostic chest images that enable radiologists to detect small lung nodules with superior sensitivity vs. posterior-anterior (PA) and left lateral views of the chest at minimal relative radiation level (< 0.1 mSv). This clinical feature is a way of acquiring a series of low-dose projection images during a single sweep of the X-ray tube over a limited angle.

As many as 60 images can be captured in approximately 10 seconds. These data are then used to generate images at the desired slice interval defined by the user, a huge dose and patient throughput benefit compared to linear tomography, which provides only one image from a similar tube sweep. Using CT-like algorithms, high-resolution thin slices are reconstructed and can be reviewed by the radiologist at a computer workstation as individual images or in a cine mode.

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