ABSTRACT
High-resolution CT (HRCT) as a technique has shown an increasing role in the evaluation of known or suspected lung disease. To accurately interpret HRCT, an awareness of normal lung and pleural anatomy is essential. Knowledge of optimal HRCT technique is necessary to avoid misinterpretation and increase diagnostic accuracy. In addition, the potential technical and patient-related pitfalls are many. This article discusses normal lung and pleural anatomy, the technique of HRCT, and potential technical and patient-related pitfalls of HRCT.
Subject(s)
Lung/anatomy & histology , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Algorithms , Artifacts , Humans , Lung Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Radiographic Image Enhancement , Radiography, ThoracicABSTRACT
Twenty-six patients with advanced head and neck cancer, 22 of whom had failed prior surgery and/or radiotherapy, were treated with a combination regimen of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II, bleomycin, and methotrexate. There were no complete responses. Nine patients achieved a partial response (35%). Three of the four (75%) patients without prior therapy achieved a partial response while only 6 of the 22 patients (27%) with prior surgery and/or radiation therapy obtained a partial response. The median response duration was 3 months. Patients with a partial response did not live significantly longer than those who did not live significantly longer than those who did not respond. Toxic reactions were frequent: there were three episodes of sepsis secondary to leukopenia and two cases of bleomycin pulmonary toxicity. Mucositis was noted in 40% and nausea and vomiting in 60% of patients. We conclude that this triple-drug regimen has little value in the treatment of patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who have failed prior surgery and radiotherapy.
