[Use of CT in the staging and follow-up of small-cell bronchial cancer].

In 54 patients with small-cell bronchial carcinoma, investigated with conventional X-ray technique and computer tomography, CT afforded a considerable extension of findings in regard to mediastinal tumor and metastatic spread, as well as in the detection of supraclavicular and pleural metastases. Also, the process of remission and renewed tumor growth could be observed better. Thus, CT constitutes quite an acquisition to therapy planning. The investigations carried out simultaneously in the brain region did not appreciably add to the findings in comparison to scintigraphy. In contrast, in the abdominal region, we have discovered liver metastases, subrenal metastases and lymph-node metastases both at first investigations and at controls. At post-mortem, however, we found kidney metastases that were not described in the CT but which may possibly have arisen prefinally. Altogether, thoracal and abdominal investigations with CT prior to onset of therapy and subsequent control are a valuable addition to therapy planning.