DOI: https://doi.org/10.22263/2312-4156.2026.4.98
A.M. Shestiuk, A.S. Karpitski
Computed tomography in the diagnosis of the pulmonary artery tumor lesions
Brest Regional Clinical Hospital, Brest, Republic of Belarus
Vestnik VGMU. 2026;25(4):98-104.
Abstract.
Objectives. To analyze the diagnostic capabilities of the chest computed tomography (CT) in cases of the pulmonary artery involvement in the pathological process in patients with lung cancer. Material and methods. The examination results of 40 patients with the confirmed lung cancer and tumor invasion of the pulmonary artery were analyzed. All patients underwent native computed tomography (CT) of the chest; 10 of them (25%) had intravenous contrast enhancement. The control group consisted of the chest CT scans of 30 patients without cancer. Two radiologists (with 25- and 15-years’ experience) independently analyzed the test image set. Results. The accuracy of native chest CT in detecting cancerous involvement of the pulmonary artery was only 65.7%, with a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 66%. The area under the PRC curve was 0.689, indicating the low prognostic value of non-contrast chest CT in diagnosis. With contrast-enhanced CT, signs of pulmonary artery invasion were confirmed in 100% of cases. In preoperative planning, contrast-enhanced chest CT allows the surgeon to accurately determine the area of invasion and the diameters of the proximal and distal segments of the vessel, which is important for selecting the approach and method of possible pulmonary artery reconstruction. 99 Conclusions. Non-contrast CT of the chest lacks sufficient accuracy for diagnosing pulmonary artery invasion. At the same time, contrast-enhanced CT is the method of choice, ensuring 100% detection of signs of pulmonary artery involvement and enabling preoperative planning, which improves the quality of surgical treatment.
Keywords: lung cancer, pulmonary artery, computed tomography, invasion, contrast enhancement, reconstruction.
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Submitted 04.05.2026
Accepted 27.08.2026
Information about authors:
Andrey M. Shestiuk – Candidate of Medical Sciences, associate professor, the department of surgery and transplantation, Brest Regional Clinical Hospital, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2624-5773, e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.;
A.S. Karpitski – Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, chief physician, Brest Regional Clinical Hospital, https://orcid. org/0000-0001-8205-8959.
