Examining several radiologic features of lung nodules on CT scans enabled radiologists to discern whether the nodules were benign or cancerous, according to an article published online May 14 in PLOS One.
Looking to lower the rate of false positives in CT lung cancer screening, researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Vanderbilt University reviewed a selection of 318 benign and 408 malignant lung nodules (> 7 mm) on the CT scans of participants in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). They tested the ability of 57 independent quantitative variables to characterize the nodules based on radiologic features such as volume, shape, and texture.
Among these variables, they identified eight that were able to distinguish between benign and malignant nodules with statistically significant accuracy (p < 0.01): vertical location, volume estimate, flatness, texture analysis, maximum shape index, average shape index, average positive mean curvature, and minimum mean curvature. The area under the curve for these eight features was 0.939.
The radiomics approach looks promising and has the potential to change the way physicians evaluate incidentally detected lung nodules, said first author Dr. Tobias Peikert in a statement from the Mayo Clinic.
![Axial images from unenhanced calcium score cardiac CT (left) and curved planar reformation images from CT angiography (right) show that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater coronary artery calcium and more obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Top row: Images in a 68-year-old male patient with higher 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (7.9 μg/m3 for particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5] and 17.4 parts per billion [ppb] for NO2) with extensive CAD (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] >1,000 and obstructive CAD [≥70% diameter stenosis]). Bottom row: Images in a 57-year-old female patient with lower 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (6.3 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 4.6 ppb for NO2) with no CAD (CACS = 0 and no obstructive stenosis).](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/06/hanneman.r6SMLzkezo.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
