Computer-Aided Differential Diagnosis of the Pulmonary Nodule: Towards an Understanding of the Medical Imaging Basics and Experiences in the Field

In this article, the m odern concepts of com puter-aided diagnosis (CAD), the methods of pulmonary nodule detection, and facts derived from the literature on the pulm onary nodule differential CAD are com piled in one source and described in som e detail. Several issues in lung cancer (LC) epidem iology and early diagnosis are discussed. Analysis of research done so far shows evidence that various CAD system s can be successfully applied to chest radiographs, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron em ission tom ography (PET). These m odalities can serve as useful potential alternative tools available to practicing m edical professionals perform ing routine diagnostics. (J Lung Cancer 2009;8(2):78 󰠏 91)