title: Spiral volumetric CT as a routine technique for thoracic imaging.
abstract: The use of spiral volumetric computed tomography (CT) for thoracic imaging is described. A phantom experiment using nodules made of fish meat established a clinically acceptable practical table speed of 15 mm/s. With this table speed it was possible to scan the entire lung during a single breath-hold of 16-20 s. Comparison of this technique with conventional CT in 18 patients with 62 nodules showed no difference in effectiveness. The imaging of linear and reticular opacities, however, was not satisfactory in three of the eight lesions. Visualization of normal mediastinal vessels on spiral CT using less contrast material was comparable to that of conventional CT in 20 of 30 patients; it was less satisfactory in 10 patients, but vessels still could be identified. We conclude that spiral CT is a useful method to examine the thorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu-shi, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egashira
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008961:Models, Structural; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*