Multislice CT of the lungs - Technique and clinical applications

With the advent of multislice technology computed tomography experienced a boost in image quality, comparable to the introduction of spiral CT one dec ade ago. In the chest,the improved performance may be utilised to scan fast er or to obtain an almost isotropic spatial resolution. For examinations of the lungs multislice CT offers considerable advantages over single slice s piral CT: reduced breathing and pulsation artefacts, the ability to cover l arge volumes with thin slices, the simultaneous evaluation of high resoluti on and standard imaging protocols from one data acquisition, high resolutio n multiplanar sections through the lung parenchyma, and 3D techniques like volume rendering and virtual bronchoscopy. In this review the technical pri nciples of multislice CT of the lungs are discussed. Major clinical applica tions such as evaluation of focal and diffuse lung disease are reviewed.