Usefulness of thin-slice high-resolution computed tomography in the diagnosis of small lung cancer

A total of 16 patients with lung cancer 3 cm or less were scanned with serial 1.5 - 2 mm thick slices at 3 - 5 mm intervals. The findings from the thin-slice computed tomography (CT) were compared with concurrent plain chest X-rays and soft X-rays of histopathologic specimens. Thin-slice CT was more useful than plain X-rays in delineating inside structure and margin of the tumor, spiculation, and notch sign in cases of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The two imaging procedures did not differ in their ability to delineate vascular interruption, vascular convergence and pleural retraction. Of 11 variables examined, eight showed the concordance between thin-slice CT and soft X-rays in cases of adenocardinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, and six in cases of large cell carcinoma. The results suggest the usefulness of thin-slice CT in determining histology of small lung cancer. (Namekawa, K.)