Conventional tomography, computerized tomography and proton spin tomography in lung disorders
Vock, P.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 118(38): 1348-1355
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 3187471 Document Number: 323831
In addition to conventional tomography, CT and MRI have been introduced into clinical pulmonary radiology in recent years. Involving little or no ionizing radiation, these two digital imaging methods offer well-defined sections that can be post-processed to analyze different anatomical compartments. MRI of the lung currently faces technical problems, in particular motion artifacts and low proton density, and is more expensive. Thus, it is still reserved for selected problems, e.g. lesion characterization or vascular pathology. CT has replaced conventional tomography for many indications. The performance of these imaging methods in clinical problem situations, such as obstruction of the central bronchial tree, solitary pulmonary nodules, metastases, larger focal lesions, or diffuse disease, is discussed. A rational approach to percutaneous lung biopsy is suggested.