Bridging the Gap Between Radiology and Microscopy Using microCT: Implications for Neoplastic and Non-neoplastic Lung Disease.

This study explored the potential of microCT, a high-resolution imaging technique, to enhance the correlation between radiological and pathological findings in lung disease. By performing paired ex vivo CT and microCT scans on surgically removed lung lobes, the researchers were able to identify additional primary carcinomas, separate tumor nodules, and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia that were not evident before surgery. This led to an upgrade in the TNM staging for some patients, highlighting the value of microCT in guiding pathologists and enabling more precise tumor evaluation. The study also provided insights into underlying structural lung diseases, such as emphysema and fibrosis. While this was an exploratory study, the findings suggest that microCT could be a practical and beneficial tool for improving the accuracy of lung cancer staging and identifying previously undetected abnormalities, warranting further validation in a larger, prospective study.