[Resectable bronchial cancer. Contribution of computed x-ray tomography in the evaluation of loco-regional extension].

A prospective study of 107 patients was performed for assessing the CT contribution in preoperative staging of lung carcinoma. Thoracotomy was performed in all patients. The results demonstrated that CT is useful in all cases when surgery is indicated. Nevertheless CT gave not benefit in cases of peripheral small tumors T1N0 classified after standard chest radiograph and fibroscopy. The statistical analysis allowed to define the most accurate size criteria to declare mediastinal nodes as hypertrophied. Furthermore this study confirms that CT criteria of mediastinal and chest wall involvement have to be very strict.