Computed Tomography and Routine Chest Radiography in Oat Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

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Abstract
Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest and routine posteroanterior and lateral chest films were compared in 32 patients with pathologically proven oat cell carcinoma of the lung. Of the 32 patients, 19 were examined prior to any form of therapy. Overall, CT gave more information about the extent of disease. The significance of this information may be of little value because the routine chest films also demonstrated mediastinal involvement, although to a lesser degree. CT of the chest should not be the initial diagnostic staging procedure in oat cell carcinoma, but should be used selectively. It can be quite useful in patients who have a partially opacified lung, possibly for the evaluation of mediastinum after therapy, and for the evaluation of possible abdominal metastases.