Comparison of CT and MR in 50 patients with bronchial cancer

50 patients with histologically proven bronchial cancer were subjected to CT and MR prior to treatment. The results obtained were comparatively analysed in terms of tumor detection, accuracy of determining tumor extent, resectability, staging and identification of signs of malignancy. The relation of the mass to neighboring structures (vessels, bronchial tree, mediastinum and pleura), the distinction between the mass and adjacent atelectatic lung tissue and the involvement of regional lymph nodes were of particular interest. Overall, the 2 imaging techniques were more or less equal in terms of the diagnostic information obtainable. While MR offers the advantage of multiplanar slicing and better defines vascular structures, CT has a better spatial resolution so that it is somewhat superior to MR in evaluating the endobronchial tumor extent and the status of minor mediastinal lymph nodes. (Author)