Chest CT Scanning Protocol for Lung Evaluation

We performed 128 slices of chest CT scans with Incisive Philips CT scanners (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). CT examinations were performed with the patient in the supine position in breath-hold, and inspiration using a standard dose protocol, without contrast intravenous injection. The scanning range was from the apex to the base of the lungs. The tube voltage and the current tube were 120 kV and 100–200 mA (and if applicable, using z-axis tube current modulation), respectively. All data were reconstructed with a 0.6–1.0 mm increment. The matrix was 512 mm × 512 mm. Images were reconstructed using a sharp reconstruction kernel for parenchyma evaluation and hard reconstruction kernel for other lung evaluation. All data were reconstructed with a 0.6–1.0 mm increment. Multiplanar reconstruction was also calculated. Details are provided in previous papers [8 (link),11 (link)].