Computed Tomography Imaging Features of Lung Cancer under Artificial Intelligence Algorithm and Its Correlation with Pathology

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the detection performance of an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm and pathology in chest computed tomography (CT) images. In this study, a new pulmonary nodule (PN) detection algorithm was designed and developed on the three-dimensional (3D) connected domain algorithm. The appropriate grayscale threshold of CT images was selected, the CT images were converted into black-and-white images, and the useless images were removed. Then, the remaining lung images were formed into a 3D black-and-white pixel matrix. Labeling statistics was carried out, and the size, property, and location of PN could be measured and determined. A self-built database of PNs undergoing chest multislice spiral CT examination was retrospectively selected, and 150 cases were randomly selected by SPSS 22.0. Image processing was performed according to the algorithm and compared with the PN detected by radiologists; finally, the detection results were counted. There were 560 benign and malignant PNs, 312 malignant, and 248 benign. The algorithm detected 498 cases, of which 478 cases were detected accurately, and the sensitivity was 95.98%. The radiologist detected 424 cases, 364 cases were accurate, and the sensitivity was 85.85%. Compared with the detection results of radiologists, the algorithm detection results of nodules in solid nodules and ground glass nodules were more accurate. The detection results of nodules in the pleural connection type, peripheral type, central type, and hilar type were more accurate and statistically significant ( $P<0.05$ ). The malignancy, size, property, and location of different nodules could be accurately determined through CT images under this algorithm. It provided important support for the pathological research of lung cancer and prejudged the future development of PN in patients more accurately.