USING CT AND MRI TO EVALUATE RESECTABILITY IN LUNG-CANCER PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED MEDIASTINAL INVASION

Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are accu rate in detecting gross invasion of the mediastinum by lung cancer. Wh ile neither modality is accurate in detecting subtle invasion of media stinal pleura, MRT has the potential to be more accurate due to better soft tissue differentiation. Several signs, when present, can indicat e a subset of patients with lung cancer that is still likely to be res ectable. Alternatively, thickening of the posterior tracheal band is o ne of the most specific radiographic signs of mediastinal invasion whe n there is a left lung tumor. The following case report describes a pa tient with mediastinal invasion of lung cancer.