COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN THE DETECTION OF P ULMONARY METASTASES - IMPROVEMENT BY APPLICATION OF SPIRAL TECHNOLOGY

Computed tomography is the imaging modality of choice for detection or exclusion of pulmonary metastases. In most cases these are spheric, m ultiple, bilateral, and located in the peripheral areas of the middle and lower fields of the lungs. Differential diagnosis of solitary pulm onary nodules is difficult. Evaluating whether they are malignant or b enign is insufficient despite the application of multiple CT criteria. Spiral computed tomography acquiring an imaging volume in a breathhol d has led to significant improvement in the sensitivity of detecting p ulmonary nodules. Imaging protocols are presented, and the influence o f the different parameters is discussed. Although not all pulmonary me tastases may be detected with spiral computed tomography, it is the mo st important examination when considering pulmonary metastasectomy. Co mputed tomography is the imaging modality of choice when monitoring pu lmonary metastases during systemic therapeutic regimens by measuring a ll nodules or ''indicator lesions.''