[Determination of the value of conventional and computer-assisted tomography in examining the thoracic organs]

We compared the results of CT and conventional tomography examinations of the thorax of 137 patients with each other and with the final results. In the diagnosis of bronchial carcinomas we found no significant differences between the two methods. In all other investigated items CT proved to be superior to conventional tomography, especially of the evaluation of mediastinum (90% vs. 35%). We conclude that CT is the method of choice in the staging of intrathoracic tumours and especially in the evaluation of hilar and mediastinal masses and there is no need for conventional tomography in these cases.