Abstract：Objective: To evaluate the value of spiral CT and MRI in staging bronchial carcinoma. Methods: Thirty-six patients with bronchial carcinoma underwent both MRI and enhancement CT within 5 days. TNM staging and clinical staging were established. The invasion of thoracic structures and lymph nodes enlargement were the main observation. Results: Clinical stages and TNM stages were determined according to the international staging system, and were IIA in 2 patients, IIB in 3, IIIA in 9, IIIB in 18 and IV in 4. Among the tumor(T) stage, CT and MRI were similar in 26 cases. CT was advantageous in revealing the destruction of adjacent ribs in 2 cases and nodules in the same lung lobe in 3. MRI showed extrapleural fat invasion in 3 cases. And coronal MR images showed definite invasion of the left atrium in 2 cases. Among the node (N) stage, both CT and MR could find nodes larger than 10mm in the mediastinum. Hilar nodes in 4 cases mainly determined by CT. Conclusion: For the imaging staging bronchial carcinoma, CT and MRI can strongly support each other.
2008, Vol. 19 
