Radiologic staging of lung cancer

Preoperative tumor staging in patients with known or suspected non-small ce ll lung cancer is generally performed using contrast enhanced chest compute d tomography (CT) (including the adrenal glands). Abdominal CT is generally unnecessary, given the low frequency of isolated liver metastases. The rol e of MRT is limited, and it is used mainly as a problem solving tool in cer tain specific situations. A CT showing no mediastinal lymph node enlargemen t usually oviates preoperative mediastinal lymph node sampling, with certai n exceptions. If enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes are demonstrated at CT, t hen CT may be used to direct preoperative lymph node sampling via transbron choscopic Wang needle biopsy, mediastinoscopy, mediastinotomy, or video ass isted thoracoscopy.