Prospective computed tomographic scanning in the staging of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity2 @entity5 @entity55
One hundred eight-five @entity1 with potentially operable @entity2 were prospectively evaluated by computed tomographic scanning of the mediastinum and upper part of the abdomen. Mediastinal lymph node size was correlated with operative and pathologic findings. There was close agreement between computed tomographic estimate of size and operative measurements. Mediastinal lymph nodes that were larger than 2.0 cm were positive for @entity5 in 69.6%, nodes between 1.1 and 1.9 cm contained metastases in 31.8%, and nodes less than 1.0 cm were positive in only 2.7%. The cell type, T status, and location of the @entity5 did not influence these findings: A node less than 1.0 cm with a T3 lesion had the same probability of being abnormal as with a T1 lesion, although predictably, those @entity1 with @entity5 had a greater likelihood of having nodes larger than 2.0 cm. The presence of @entity55 did not increase the prevalence of enlarged, histologically normal nodes. Asymptomatic adrenal metastases were present in 3.2% of @entity1 with otherwise operable disease and were suggested only by the computed tomographic scan. @entity1 with mediastinal nodes less than 1.0 cm probably do not need preresection mediastinal exploration. Those with nodes larger than 2.0 cm should not be considered unresectable without pathologic confirmation, even in large @entity5 , in view of the 30.4% negativity rate. The computed tomographic scan is useful in depicting and localizing enlarged mediastinal nodes but cannot be used as a substitute for pathologic examination.
