Distribution of Solid Lung Nodules Presence and Size by Age and Sex in a Northern European Nonsmoking Population.

Background Most of the data regarding prevalence and size distribution of solid lung nodules originates from lung cancer screening studies that target high-risk populations or from Asian general cohorts. In recent years, the identification of lung nodules in non-high-risk populations, scanned for clinical indications, has increased. However, little is known about the presence of solid lung nodules in the Northern European nonsmoking population.

Low-Dose CT-derived Bronchial Parameters in Individuals with Healthy Lungs.

Background CT-derived bronchial parameters have been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma severity, but little is known about these parameters in healthy individuals. Purpose To investigate the distribution of bronchial parameters at low-dose CT in individuals with healthy lungs from a Dutch general population. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, low-dose chest CT performed between May 2017 and October 2022 were obtained from participants who had completed the second-round assessment of the prospective, longitudinal Imaging in Lifelines study.

Effect of emphysema on AI software and human reader performance in lung nodule detection from low-dose chest CT.

Background: Emphysema influences the appearance of lung tissue in computed tomography (CT). We evaluated whether this affects lung nodule detection by artificial intelligence (AI) and human readers (HR).

Methods: Individuals were selected from the "Lifelines" cohort who had undergone low-dose chest CT.

Who is at risk of lung nodules on low-dose CT in a Western country? A population-based approach.

Background: This population-based study aimed to identify the risk factors for lung nodules in a Western European general population.

Methods: We quantified the presence or absence of lung nodules among 12 055 participants of the Dutch population-based ImaLife (Imaging in Lifelines) study (age ≥45 years) who underwent low-dose chest computed tomography. Outcomes included the presence of 1) at least one solid lung nodule (volume ≥30 mm) and 2) a clinically relevant lung nodule (volume ≥100 mm).

Detectability and Volumetric Accuracy of Pulmonary Nodules in Low-Dose Photon-Counting Detector Computed Tomography: An Anthropomorphic Phantom Study.

The aim of this phantom study was to assess the detectability and volumetric accuracy of pulmonary nodules on photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) at different low-dose levels compared to conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT). In-house fabricated artificial nodules of different shapes (spherical, lobulated, spiculated), sizes (2.5-10 mm and 5-1222 mm), and densities (-330 HU and 100 HU) were randomly inserted into an anthropomorphic thorax phantom.

Validation of an AI-based algorithm for measurement of the thoracic aortic diameter in low-dose chest CT.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) software for automatic thoracic aortic diameter assessment in a heterogeneous cohort with low-dose, non-contrast chest computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Participants of the Imaging in Lifelines (ImaLife) study who underwent low-dose, non-contrast chest CT (August 2017-May 2022) were included using random samples of 80 participants <50y, ≥80y, and with thoracic aortic diameter ≥40 mm. AI-based aortic diameters at eight guideline compliant positions were compared with manual measurements.

Preparing CT imaging datasets for deep learning in lung nodule analysis: Insights from four well-known datasets.

Background: Deep learning is an important means to realize the automatic detection, segmentation, and classification of pulmonary nodules in computed tomography (CT) images. An entire CT scan cannot directly be used by deep learning models due to image size, image format, image dimensionality, and other factors. Between the acquisition of the CT scan and feeding the data into the deep learning model, there are several steps including data use permission, data access and download, data annotation, and data preprocessing.

Predicted versus CT-derived total lung volume in a general population: The ImaLife study.

Predicted lung volumes based on the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) model are used in pulmonary disease detection and monitoring. It is unknown how well the predicted lung volume corresponds with computed tomography (CT) derived total lung volume (TLV). The aim of this study was to compare the GLI-2021 model predictions of total lung capacity (TLC) with CT-derived TLV.

Detection and size quantification of pulmonary nodules in ultralow-dose versus regular-dose CT: a comparative study in COPD patients.

Objective: To evaluate detectability and semi-automatic diameter and volume measurements of pulmonary nodules in ultralow-dose CT (ULDCT) regular-dose CT (RDCT).

Methods: Fifty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) underwent RDCT on 64-multidetector CT (120 kV, filtered back projection), and ULDCT on third-generation dual source CT (100 kV with tin filter, advanced modeled iterative reconstruction). One radiologist evaluated the presence of nodules on both scans in random order, with discrepancies judged by two independent radiologists and consensus reading.

Effect of Chest Computed Tomography Kernel Use on Emphysema Score in Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Evaluated for Lung Volume Reduction.

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) emphysema quantification is a vital diagnostic tool in patient evaluation for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR). Smooth kernels for CT image reconstruction are generally recommended for quantitative analyses. This recommendation is not always followed, which may affect quantification of emphysema extent and eventually, treatment decisions.

Pre-screening to guide coronary artery calcium scoring for early identification of high-risk individuals in the general population.

Aims: To evaluate the ability of Systematic COronary Risk Estimation 2 (SCORE2) and other pre-screening methods to identify individuals with high coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in the general population.

Methods And Results: Computed tomography-based CACS quantification was performed in 6530 individuals aged 45 years or older from the general population. Various pre-screening methods to guide referral for CACS were evaluated.

CT characteristics of solid pulmonary nodules of never smokers versus smokers: A population-based study.

Purpose: Aim was to assess CT characteristics of lung nodules in never and former smokers compared to current smokers in a population-based setting.

Method: We included individuals aged 45-60 years taking part in the ImaLife (Imaging in Lifelines) study, with at least one solid lung nodule (≥30 mm) on low-dose chest CT. Qualitative (location, shape, margin, nodule type, attached structures) and quantitative (count, diameter, volume) nodule characteristics were evaluated.

Evaluation of spirometry-gated computed tomography to measure lung volumes in emphysema patients.

Introduction: In emphysema patient being evaluated for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR), accurate measurement of lung volumes is important. Total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV) are commonly measured by body plethysmography but can also be derived from chest computed tomography (CT). Spirometry-gated CT scanning potentially improves the agreement of CT and body plethysmography.

Improved precision of noise estimation in CT with a volume-based approach.

Assessment of image noise is a relevant issue in computed tomography (CT). Noise is routinely measured by the standard deviation of density values (Hounsfield units, HU) within a circular region of interest (ROI). We explored the effect of a spherical volume of interest (VOI) on noise measurements.

Seasonal prevalence and characteristics of low-dose CT detected lung nodules in a general Dutch population.

We investigated whether presence and characteristics of lung nodules in the general population using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) varied by season. Imaging in Lifelines (ImaLife) study participants who underwent chest LDCT-scanning between October 2018 and October 2019 were included in this sub-study. Hay fever season (summer) was defined as 1st April to 30th September and Influenza season (winter) as 1st October to 31st March.

Focal pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation is related to plaque presence, plaque type, and stenosis severity in coronary CTA.

Objectives: To investigate the association of pericoronary adipose tissue mean attenuation (PCAT) with coronary artery disease (CAD) characteristics on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 165 symptomatic patients who underwent third-generation dual-source CCTA at 70kVp: 93 with and 72 without CAD (204 arteries with plaque, 291 without plaque). CCTA was evaluated for presence and characteristics of CAD per artery.

Ultra-low-dose CT combined with noise reduction techniques for quantification of emphysema in COPD patients: An intra-individual comparison study with standard-dose CT.

Purpose: Phantom studies in CT emphysema quantification show that iterative reconstruction and deep learning-based noise reduction (DLNR) allow lower radiation dose. We compared emphysema quantification on ultra-low-dose CT (ULDCT) with and without noise reduction, to standard-dose CT (SDCT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Method: Forty-nine COPD patients underwent ULDCT (third generation dual-source CT; 70ref-mAs, Sn-filter 100kVp; median CTDIvol 0.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary Calcification in a Middle-aged Dutch Population: The ImaLife Study.

Purpose: To assess the presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) risk in a middle-aged Dutch population.

Methods: Classic cardiovascular risk factors and CAC were analyzed in 4083 participants aged 45 to 60 years (57.9% women) from the population-based ImaLife study.

Feasibility of bronchial wall quantification in low- and ultralow-dose third-generation dual-source CT: An ex vivo lung study.

Purpose: To investigate image quality and bronchial wall quantification in low- and ultralow-dose third-generation dual-source computed tomography (CT).

Methods: A lung specimen from a formerly healthy male was scanned using third-generation dual-source CT at standard-dose (51 mAs/120 kV, CTDI 3.41 mGy), low-dose (1/4th and 1/10th of standard dose), and ultralow-dose setting (1/20th).

Towards reference values of pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation: impact of coronary artery and tube voltage in coronary computed tomography angiography.

Objectives: To determine normal pericoronary adipose tissue mean attenuation (PCAT) values for left the anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA) in patients without plaques on coronary CT angiography (cCTA), taking into account tube voltage influence.

Methods: This retrospective study included 192 patients (76 (39.6%) men; median age 49 years (range, 19-79)) who underwent cCTA with third-generation dual-source CT for the suspicion of CAD between 2015 and 2017.

Computed tomography for myocardial characterization in ischemic heart disease: a state-of-the-art review.

This review provides an overview of the currently available computed tomography (CT) techniques for myocardial tissue characterization in ischemic heart disease, including CT perfusion and late iodine enhancement. CT myocardial perfusion imaging can be performed with static and dynamic protocols for the detection of ischemia and infarction using either single- or dual-energy CT modes. Late iodine enhancement may be used for the analysis of myocardial infarction.

High-pitch dual-source CT for coronary artery calcium scoring: A head-to-head comparison of non-triggered chest versus triggered cardiac acquisition.

Background: To determine the effect of low-dose, high-pitch non-electrocardiographic (ECG)-triggered chest CT on coronary artery calcium (CAC) detection, quantification and risk stratification, compared to ECG-triggered cardiac CT.

Methods: We selected 1,000 participants from the ImaLife study, 50% with coronary calcification on cardiac CT. All participants underwent non-contrast cardiac CT followed by chest CT using third-generation dual-source technology.

Assessment of Dynamic Change of Coronary Artery Geometry and Its Relationship to Coronary Artery Disease, Based on Coronary CT Angiography.

To investigate the relationship between dynamic changes of coronary artery geometry and coronary artery disease (CAD) using computed tomography (CT). Seventy-one patients underwent coronary CT angiography with retrospective electrocardiographic gating. End-systolic (ES) and end-diastolic (ED) phases were automatically determined by dedicated software.

Potential for dose reduction in CT emphysema densitometry with post-scan noise reduction: a phantom study.

Objective: The aim of this phantom study was to investigate the effect of scan parameters and noise suppression techniques on the minimum radiation dose for acceptable image quality for CT emphysema densitometry.

Methods: The COPDGene phantom was scanned on a third generation dual-source CT system with 16 scan setups (CTDI 0.035-10.