Incidental findings at chest CT: a needs assessment survey of radiologists' knowledge.

Rationale And Objectives: To assess practice patterns in evaluating incidental findings at chest computed tomography (CT) to determine the need for further education.

Materials And Methods: A survey was given to 1600 radiologists, presenting four clinical case questions regarding the evaluation/significance of the following incidental findings at chest CT: thyroid lesion; enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes; asymptomatic, small pulmonary embolus; and small lung nodule. The respondents' answers were compared with "truth," as defined by the best evidence available in the medical literature.

Staging esophageal cancer.

Accurate staging of disease is necessary in patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer in order to prompt appropriate curative or palliative therapy. Computed tomography (CT) may be used to evaluate for local spread into adjacent structures (T4 disease) and to diagnose distant metastases (M1). Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is the modality of choice for distinguishing T1 tumors from higher stage lesions and for detecting and sampling regional lymph nodes (N1 disease).

Lung lesion doubling times: values and variability based on method of volume determination.

Purpose: To determine doubling times (DTs) of lung lesions based on volumetric measurements from thin-section CT imaging.

Methods: Previously untreated patients with > or = two thin-section CT scans showing a focal lung lesion were identified. Lesion volumes were derived using direct volume measurements and volume calculations based on lesion area and diameter.

Staging non-small cell lung cancer.

Patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) need accurate tumor staging in order to direct appropriate therapy and establish prognosis; the tumor is usually staged using the TNM system. The major imaging modalities currently used for staging this disease are thoracic computed tomography (CT) (including the adrenal glands) and whole body fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. CT is generally most useful in evaluating the T stage, i.

CT appearance of thoracic aortic graft complications.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the spectrum of CT findings and the clinical outcome of thoracic aortic graft complications.

Conclusion: Aortic graft complications detected with CT may or may not be clinically apparent and/or relevant. CT characterization in combination with clinical findings helps to determine patient treatment.