[Computed tomography and conventional x-ray diagnosis of tumor bone lesions]

The informative value of conventional x-ray film and computed tomography was analysed on the basis of findings in 214 patients having 9 primary and 189 secondary malignant tumours as well as 16 benign bone tumours. In 44% of the benign bone tumours CT yielded decisive additional information in so far as it became possible to determine the type of tumour (4) or the paraosseous tumour extension (3), respectively. The tumour status of the primary malignant tumours was determined throughout via x-ray film, whereas intraosseous and extraosseous extension of the tumorous process was covered much better by computed tomography. CT did not yield additional information in 28% of the secondary malignant bone tumours, whereas 33% of the osseous destructions--depending on the size and localisation--could be identified only via computed tomography. Decisive additional information was gained via CT in 39% of the patients mainly in respect of intraspinal or endocranial tumour extension.