Computer-assisted technologies in lung cancer diagnosis and staging.

A paradigm for digital image processing in radiological diagnosis and an appropriate algorithmic instrumentation toolset for the implementation of image processing methods on inexpensive computers and workstations are outlined briefly. Examples of computer-assisted technologies for lung cancer differential diagnosis are given that exhibit considerable increase in diagnostic accuracy. Multimodal image processing and data fusion in lung cancer diagnosis are discussed and a 'road map' for examining lung cancer patients is suggested on the basis of clinical experience in the use of different modalities for lung cancer staging.