Progress and problems of diagnostic imaging, (1)

The advantages and problems of CT in the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions were described. CT is very effective for the diagnosis of these lesions. It is sensitive in visualization of the mediastinal lymph nodes which are difficult to detect by roentgenography. It is also most suitable for the screening of myasthenia gravis. CT values of tumors permit the qualitative diagnosis of lipoma and mediastinal lipoidosis to some extent. However, histological diagnoses cannot be made on the basis of the difference in the CT values of the soft tissue, nor is differentiation between benign and malignant tumors possible. (Chiba, N.)