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CT (157) and MRI (74) potential in lung cancer staging was studied. Central form was identified in 195 patients (75%). The data were compared in 34. Comparison with surgical evidence was carried out in 47 (CT) and 35 (MRI). Both procedures proved valuable. Use of CT cut down the gap between the results of clinical and surgical evaluation to 17%. Higher precision was achieved by MRI application which was demonstrated by a comparison of the sensitivities of both procedures attained in evaluating the three parameters. The sensitivities of MRI (96%) and CT (90%) in the detection of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy were almost identical. MRI was superior to CT in detecting large vessel involvements (sensitivities--91 and 42%, respectively) as well as those of the pleura, pericardium and thoracic wall.

In 232 patients predominantly with the central type of lung cancer underwent echotomography (ET) (n = 16), CT (n = 142) and MRT (n = 55) in order to evaluate their possibilities in the diagnosis of the spread of a tumor process to the mediastinum and their impact on disease staging. The results of the techniques and the data of surgical interventions were compared: CT in 55 patients, CT in 70 and MRT in 22. The sensitivity of each method was determined by 3 parameters: 1) detection of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy; 2) diseased mediastinal large vessels; and 3) cancer spread to the pleura, pericardium, heart, and chest. Routine tomography is of informative value in the diagnosis of metastases into a peritracheo-bronchial group of lymph nodes (its sensitivity, 66%), ET, for paravasal (91%), CT and MRT for any groups of mediastinal lymph nodes (89-100%). MRT and ET (with sensitivities of 80 and 100%, respectively) were the methods of choice in the assessment of vascular lesions. MRT and CT are the most potent in evaluating the pleura, pericardium, and chest. The application of new techniques allows the clinical disease stage to be changed in 520 patients. Only X-ray and bronchological studies of patients with suspected lung cancer are not sufficient. ET either CT or MPR should be supplemented.