COMPARISON BETWEEN COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY AND MAGNETIC-RESONANCE DATA AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN SUBSTERNAL GOITERS

Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) permit the acquir ement of important diagnostic elements for the anatomo-topographic sta ging of substernal goiters, and for their characterization. The author s compared data obtained by CT and MR with intraoperative anatomo-topo graphic findings and definitive histology in 28 patients with substern al goiters. CT was performed in all these patients while MR only in 9. The results obtained showed an accuracy of 85.7% for CT and 100% for MR regarding the anatomo-topographic correspondence with intraoperativ e findings, without a significant statistical difference between these two diagnostic procedures. MR is more accurate than CT in showing the vascular dislocations. CT and MR have an accuracy of 82.1% and 77.7% respectively comparing their findings with histologic results obtained in operative specimens, without a significant statistical difference. In conclusion MR has to be considered the more accurate diagnostic pr ocedure and therefore recommended in the study of patients with subste rnal goiters, while CT can be performed only in selected patients.