[CT in the evaluation of the extension of bronchogenic carcinoma]

The computed tomographic patterns in 52 patients with histologically proven lung cancer are reported. The AA. underline the not sobstitutive role of C.T. scan in pre-operative determination of bronchogenic carcinoma extension. C.T. revealed a very high diagnostic accuracy in assessing the primary tumor extension and in evaluating distant macrometastases; however, in showing hilar and mediastinal nodal involvement has not the same accuracy. The AA. think that, at the present time, a combinate C.T. study of the chest, upper abdomen and brain is, in the most number of cases, a rapid, accurate and practical method to evaluate the extension of lung cancer.