[Staging of bronchogenic cancer. Determination of mediastinal lymphatic involvement using magnetic resonance]

Twenty-five patients with bronchogenic carcinoma were prospectively studied by both CT and MR during 10 days preceding thoracotomy. MR scans included contiguous axial and coronal slices. Results of CT and MR studies were compared with the surgical and pathological findings. Although no significant difference was found between the two imaging methods for the evaluation of mediastinal nodes. MR appear to be superior to CT in the aortopulmonary and subcarinal node areas.