Diagnostic imaging of lung cancer.
Carcinoma of the bronchus is the most common malignancy in the Western world. It is also the leading cause of cancer-related death accounting for 32% of all cancer deaths in males and 25% in females. In the USA it causes more deaths than cancers of the colon, breast and prostate combined. Disappointingly, in a recent UK survey of improvements in cancer survival, carcinoma of the bronchus showed the smallest percentage reduction in the number of deaths avoided between 1981-1990 (0.2%). This compares badly with breast (11% reduction) and melanoma (32%). The overall 5-yr survival for lung cancer diagnosed between 1986-1990 was only 5.3% (against 66% for breast and 76% for melanoma). It is on this background that the radiologist remains actively employed in the detection, diagnosis, staging and review of this common malignancy.
Hollings
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Dept of Radiology, Cecil Fleming House, University College Hospital, London, UK.
Shaw
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P
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed