Computertomographic diagnosis and follow-up studies of bone and soft tissue tumours of the thoracic wall.

The results of computertomographic investigations (primary diagnosis n = 103 and follow-ups n = 176) of inflammatory (n = 7), benign (n = 4) and malignant bone (n = 65) and soft tissue tumours (n = 27) of the thoracic wall were analysed. The precise differential diagnosis of inflammatory destructive bone lesions from malignant bone tumours was not possible. Two thirds of the malignant bone tumours had an infiltrative growth into the adjacent tissues. Only computed tomography (CT) revealed their full extent. In addition, CT was very helpful for planning surgical treatment and radiotherapy. Comparable indications for CT were also obtained for soft tissue tumours.