Computer-assisted detection of metastatic lung tumors on computed tomography

Background This retrospective study examined the performance of computer-assisted detection in the identification of pulmonary metastases. Methods Fifty-five patients (41.8% male) who underwent surgery for metastatic lung tumors in our hospital from 2005 to 2012 were included. Computer-assisted detection software configured to display the top five nodule candidates according to likelihood was applied as the first reader for the preoperative computed tomography images. Results from the software were classified as “metastatic nodule”, “benign nodule”, or “false-positive finding” by two observers. Results Computer-assisted detection identified 85.3% (64/75) of pulmonary metastases that radiologists had detected, and 3 more (4%, 3/75) that radiologists had overlooked. Nodule candidates identified by computer-assisted detection included 86 benign nodules (median size 3.1 mm, range 1.2–18.7 mm) and 121 false-positive findings. Conclusions Computer-assisted detection identified pulmonary metastases overlooked by radiologists. However, this was at the cost of identifying a substantial number of benign nodules and false-positive findings.