title: The impact of thoracic computed tomography in clinically staged T1, N0, M0 chest lesions.
abstract: We assessed the impact of thoracic computed tomography (CT) in 38 patients considered for thoracotomy for solitary pulmonary lesions characterized as T1, N0, M0 by clinical and roentgenographic staging. False-positive lymph nodes were identified by CT in four patients prompting additional surgical staging procedures in two cases. Two of three patients with false-negative clinical, roentgenographic, and CT findings had successful complete resections. The CT scan did not correctly advance the stage of, or alter the plan for, these lesions in any patient. We conclude that CT is not helpful in patients considered for diagnostic and therapeutic thoracotomy for clinical and roentgenographic T1, N0, M0 lesions.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Disease Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Whitlock
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tenholder
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed