Aim: To clarify the utilization of spiral CT scan of the chest, using its soft ware capbilities, by
comparing thick lOmm and thin 1 mm CT sections, together with 3D images, in staging of lung
cancer.
Patients & methods: The study included 40 patients, with lung cancers, who their spiral
acquisition CT chest scans, were retrospectively evaluated, comparing thick lOmm & thin section
1 mm CT scans, & utilize 3 D images for staging of lung cancer.
Results : by using thick section 10 mm SACT chest scans, 10 patients classified as stage IA, ten
patients as IB, no cases as stage HA, 4 patients as IIB, 2 patients as stage MA, 8 patients as MB
and 6 patients as IV. While in using thin sections I mm, SACT chest, no cases as stage IA, IB,
HA, IIB, 12 cases stage HIA, 22 patients as IIIB, and 6 patients as stage IV. 3D surface images
of 40 patients, showed 6 cases with pleural puckering, 10 cases with pleural invasion, chest wall
invasion in three cases, positive relation to the main bronchus in 18 cases, better lesion simulation
in 34 cases, change of the lung cancer stage, as cases were considered as (Ti or T2) on axial cuts
with re-classification as (T3 or T4) on 3D, images in 12 cases.
Conclusion: Spiral CT scan of the chest with its soft ware facilities, including Thin sections
lmm reconstructed SACT & 3D, showing a significant change from an early to advanced stages
when the cases were re-classiified by thin 1mm sections, improving the TNM factors, in better
assessment of tumor relation to the surroundings, detect more pulmonary nodules, depict more hilar
& mediastinal lymph nodes involvements, and provides useful information that resulted in
diagnosis & staging of lung cancer, than thick section lOmm SACT. |
