The impact of thoracic computed tomography in clinically staged T1, N0, M0 chest lesions

We assessed the impact of thoracic computed tomography (CT) in 38 patients considered for thoracotomy for solitary pulmonary lesions characterized as T1, N0, M0 by clinical and roentgenographic staging. False-positive lymph nodes were identified by CT in four patients prompting additional surgical staging procedures in two cases. Two of three patients with false-negative clinical, roentgenographic, and CT findings had successful complete resections. The CT scan did not correctly advance the stage of, or alter the plan for, these lesions in any patient. We conclude that CT is not helpful in patients considered for diagnostic and therapeutic thoracotomy for clinical and roentgenographic T1, N0, M0 lesions.