Computer-aided CT image features improving the malignant risk prediction in pulmonary nodules suspicious for lung cancer.

Screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (CT) has led to increased recognition of small lung cancers and is expected to increase the rate of detection of early-stage lung cancer. Major concerns in the implementation of the CT screening of large populations include determining the appropriate management of pulmonary nodules found on a scan. The identification of patients with early-stage lung cancer who have a higher risk for relapse and who require more aggressive surveillance has been a target of the intense investigation. This study was performed to investigate whether the computer-aided CT image features could improve the discrimination ability of lung cancer prediction models for nodules in whom malignancy was suspected.