CT thorax

Computed tomography (CT) of the chest is a cross-sectional evaluation of the heart, airways, lungs, mediastinum, and associated bones and soft tissues.

Two key methods of image acquisition include:

• standard CT with 5 mm slice thickness for mediastinum and gross evaluation of lungs
• high-resolution CT (HRCT) with thin sections (slice thickness of 0.625 to 1.25 mm) for evaluation of the secondary lobule of the lungs

General indications

Emergencies

• chest trauma: evaluation of contusions, rib fractures, and pneumothorax
• aortic pathologies: dissection, transection
• pulmonary embolism
• post-thoracic surgery complications: mediastinal hematomas, complex pleural collections

Non-emergencies

• evaluation of nodules, hilar, or mediastinal masses identified on a chest radiograph
• diagnosis and staging of lung cancer
• detection of metastasis from known extrathoracic malignancies
• assessment of congenital anomalies of the thoracic great vessels
• characterization of interstitial lung disease (ILDs)

Siehe auch:

• Computertomographie
• Lungenembolie-CT