title: The possibilities and limitations of direct digital radiography, ultrasound and computed tomography in diagnosing pleural mesotelioma.
abstract: The goal of this study was to compare the possibilities and limitations of direct digital radiography of the chest (DDR), the use of ultrasound of the chest (US) and single slice computed tomography of the chest (CT) in diagnosing pleural mesothelioma. The study was conducted during the course of one year, on 80 patients who were successively referred to a specialized institution, under clinical suspicion of mesothelioma. The method of investigation was the comparison of findings, obtained by the reviewed methods of examination, with the pathohistologic results of a biopsy performed on each patient. The findings that were obtained by the enumerated methods were classified according to the radiologic signs that were found in each individual patient. We evaluated following radiological findings (signs), on each of the investigated methods: plaques, localized and generalized pleural thickenings, calcifications of the pleura, pleural effusions, parapneumonic effusions, pleural empyema, (round) atelectasis, pneumothorax, tumor mass or node, inflammatory infiltrate, elevation of the hemidiaphragm and osteolysis. The results of these were compared with pathohistologic findings and analyzed by means of standard statistical methods. The highest sensitivity was found for CT (94.4%), followed by US (92.6%), and by DDR (90.7%). The highest specificity was obtained with DDR (46.2%), followed by CT (35.5%) and US (23.8%). The comparison of these methods showed 90% diagnostic accuracy for DDR in relation to CT CT as an individual method best satisfied most of the criteria for diagnosing mesothelioma. No pathognomonic radiologic sign for mesothelioma was found.
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, Merkur University Hospital, Departmet of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Zagreb, Croatia. jpopic@inet.hr
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Popić Ramac
authors.forename: Andrija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hebrang
authors.forename: Zlata
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ivanovi-Herceg
authors.forename: Vinko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vidjak
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Brnić
authors.forename: Karlo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Novacić
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fistonić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography