Evaluation of the contribution of computed tomography to the staging of non-oat-cell primary bronchogenic carcinoma. A retrospective study

In order to evaluate the contribution of computed tomography in the pre-operative staging of non-oat-cell primary bronchogenic carcinoma, the clinical T-classification by conventional methods only and after including CT was compared with the postsurgical T-classification in 21 patients. Furthermore, hilar or mediastinal lymph node enlargement as found by conventional methods only and after including CT was compared with the postsurgical N-classification. With conventional methods, T-classification was correctly evaluated in 15 of 21 patients (71%), 5 patients (24%) were underestimated and 1 patient (5%) was overestimated. Clinical T-classification including the results of CT, was correctly evaluated in 17 patients (80%), 2 patients (10%) were underestimated and 1 patient (5%) was overestimated. One patient (5%) was underestimated by bronchoscopy. Computed tomography demonstrated in 15 patients 31 lymph nodes in the mediastinum greater than 10 mm. and 18 lymph nodes smaller than 10 mm.; in 6 patients 9 lymph nodes smaller than 10 mm. were described. Only 4 patients with mediastinal lymph node enlargement were postoperatively classified as N2. Malignant growth was detected postoperatively in 10 lymph nodes smaller than 10 mm.