Following a recent focus on research of the management of pulmonary nodules for lung cancer screening, the British Thoracic Society (BTS) has developed evidence-based algorithms and recommendations for the investigation of nodules when using imaging techniques.
These are expected to lead to a more-efficient use of resources and consistent outcomes for lung cancer patients.
In response Siemens Healthcare has announced that its syngo.via MM Oncology software solution has been fully future-proofed to ensure ease of compliance with key areas of the BTS guidelines.
“Lung cancer is the second most-common cancer in the UK and accounts for 13% of all new cases, according to Cancer Research UK,” said Ben Reed, syngo business manager for Great Britain and Ireland at Siemens Healthcare.
“Pulmonary nodules are a common case presented within hospitals and a systematic and logical approach is key to their effective investigation and management. Determining the size and growth rate is a vital part of understanding whether a nodule may be cancerous and the impact on the patient.”
Greg Baker, lead applications specialist for user services and syngo.via at Siemens, added: “Once an imaging procedure has taken place, it is common practice that nodule size is measured using an electronic ruler on the workstation, recording the maximal length and the width perpendicular to it.
“This somewhat-outdated technique can result in a variation in measured nodule sizes from one clinician to another, due to the disparity in subjective judgments of the edges of the nodule shape. If the nodule is then assessed during follow up, understanding its true growth or reduction could prove to be problematic.”
Within the new British Thoracic Society guidelines, volumetric measurement is recommended as the preferred method for assessing coin lesions. It is suggested that automated or semi-automated volumetric measurement is a more-accurate technique than using diameter measurements.
Siemens Healthcare’s syngo.via MM Oncology software provides simplicity for clinicians when measuring the volume of a nodule. This can be used to calculate possible growth or reduction between the initial scan and follow up with ease.
Baker said: “As standard, all of our customers using syngo.via are provided with a range of fully-automated tools specifically designed to support clinicians in the detection, segmentation, and evaluation of suspicious lesions including dedicated tools for the volumetric measurement of pulmonary nodules.
“The guidelines from BTS are a welcome change to ensure accuracy in measurement and evaluation. We are looking forward to working with our customers to assist with guideline compliance so clinicians are able to receive the valuable information they need to make a confident diagnosis.”