[Evaluation of intrapulmonary round foci using thin-layer computed tomography]

100 patients with 122 round pulmonary lesions were examined preoperatively by CT, using either 8 mm or 2 mm sections. The most important findings were: radial extensions were seen on the fine sections in 95% of primary bronchial carcinomas (48 cases), in 60% of lung metastases (31 cases) and in 70% of chronic inflammatory lesions (24 cases), but they were not seen in benign tumours or hamartomas. Similar findings were observed for perifocal consolidation. Calcification was found in 80% of the tuberculomas (15 cases) and in 37% of the hamartomas (8 cases), but it also occurred in 15% of the primary bronchial carcinomas and in almost 13% of the lung metastases. Thin section CT provided more information than did 8 mm sections in 44% patients, concerning the outline of the lesion, and in 60% it was better at showing calcification. It was not possible to define a pattern of calcification which would distinguish benign from malignant lesions.