Computed tomography of pulmonary metastases

CT was performed in 299 patients with possible pulmonary metastases. Metastases were found in 74 and at CT lesions were demonstrated in all of them. CT was the most sensitive non-invasive examination, demonstrating metastases in 2 patients considered normal at standard chest radiography and bilateral disease in 4 patients thought to have unilateral disease at standard examination. More nodules were resected at thoracotomy than were shown by CT. These extra nodules were small (less than 6 mm) and the majority represented non-metastatic fibrous lesions.