Visualization of bronchial lesions using multidetector CT and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS).

Objective: Staging of bronchial carcinoma presents a diagnostic challenge. In addition to CT scans, endobronchial ultrasound is used. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution multidetector CT (MSCT) with that of endobronchial ultrasound with respect of detection and extension of the bronchial lesions.
Methods: 24 patients with lesions in the central bronchial area were examined using both EBUS and MSCT. Multiplanar reconstructions (MPR) as well as virtual endoscopy (VE) were used as adjuncts in this investigation of the comparative diagnostic accuracy of MSCT and EBUS in the imaging of bronchial lesions.
Results: No significant difference could be established between EBUS and MSCT in detecting and extension of bronchial lesions. With both procedures, the use of supplementary techniques may be advantageous and helpful in individual cases.
Conclusions: When compared with EBUS, MSCT with post-processing has equally high sensitivity with regard to the visualization of malign endobronchial lesions.