Differences of CT Imaging Indexes, Serological Indicators and VOCs in Exhaled Gas in Patients between Benign and Malignant Pulmonary Nodules

doi:10.7517/issn.1674-0475.221005

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the differences between CT imaging indexes, serum blood indicators and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled gas in patients with malignant and benign pulmonary nodules. 198 patients with pulmonary nodules were included, including 120 patients with lung cancer (malignant nodule group) and 78 patients with benign nodule (benign nodule group), all patients underwent chest CT examination based on artificial intelligence imaging screening system. The expression levels of miRNA-21-5p and miRNA-574-5p in serum were detected by qRT-PCR. The levels of tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron specific enolase (NSE) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) in the serum of the patients were detected by ELISA kit. VOCs in exhaled breath of patients were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the diameter of the malignant nodule group was longer than that of the benign nodule group, and the proportion of burr sign, trachea sign, blood vessel sign, vacuole sign and pleural stretch in the malignant nodule group was much higher than that in the benign nodule group (P<0.05). The serum levels of CYFRA21-1, NSE, CEA, miRNA-21-5p and miRNA-574-5p in the malignant nodule group were higher than those in the benign nodule group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in toluene, n-propylbenzene, toluene and B-cedrene and benign nodule group between the malignant and benign nodule group (P<0.05). This study shows that there are differences in CT imaging indicators, serological indicators and VOCs in exhaled air between patients with malignant and benign pulmonary nodules, and the combination of these three examination methods may be beneficial to the early screening and diagnosis of lung cancer.

Key words: lung cancer, pulmonary nodules, chest CT, serological markers, exhaled gas markers, early screening

YAN Qibing, YU Maowen, TAN Hui. Differences of CT Imaging Indexes, Serological Indicators and VOCs in Exhaled Gas in Patients between Benign and Malignant Pulmonary Nodules[J]. IMAGING SCIENCE AND PHOTOCHEMISTRY, 2023, 41(1): 147-152.

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