[Spiral CT with three-dimensional (3D) surface reconstruction in assessing solitary pulmonary foci]

Recently it has been thought possible to characterise a pulmonary lesion by its vascular involvement. The complex vascular relationships are difficult to demonstrate by the "normal" technique of transverse CT sections. Spiral CT with 3D-surface reconstruction makes it possible to evaluate the vessels accurately and simulates the appearances one would have by looking into the thorax with a demonstration of all vessels lying within the pulmonary space examined by CT. Venous involvement was shown in every one of 18 malignant lesions but was also found in 4 out of 11 benign lesions, arterial involvement occurred in 14 out of 18 malignant and in 2 benign lesions. CT evidence of vascular involvement is in favour of a malignant tumour but is no absolute proof.