[Staging of pulmonary apex tumors. Computerized tomography versus magnetic resonance]

Apical lung cancers account for about 5% of pulmonary lesions and can be divided into two groups: Pancoast and non-Pancoast lesions. Recently, the use of MRI has been suggested in combination with CT to stage this kind of lung cancer. In this paper the authors' experience is reported relative to the current role of MRI and CT in the staging of apical lung cancers. Twelve male patients (mean age: 60.5 years) with apical lung cancers underwent conventional X-ray, CT and MR examinations of the chest. CT and MR images were studied by two independent radiologists with specific experience; surgery was the gold standard in three patients and MR and clinical symptoms in the patients not referred for surgery. In 15/108 cases (13.8%) CT and MR findings were in disagreement but in 93/108 cases (86.2%) they were in agreement. The highest disagreement rate was observed in the study of apical chest wall infiltration (33.3%), while in the study of anonymous vein involvement CT and MRI were always in agreement. The correct assessment of the regional extent of apical lung cancers is mandatory for treatment planning. In this kind of tumors MRI can be considered the method of choice thanks to its high contrast resolution and multiplanar imaging capabilities.