[Computerized tomography and lung function scintigraphy in central bronchial cancer. Comparison between morphologic and functional changes].

Functional scintigraphic and computer tomographic findings in 20 patients with central bronchial carcinomas were compared in order to determine to what extent functional changes correlate with morphological appearances. Computer tomography shows alterations in the bronchial system more clearly than changes in large or small pulmonary vessels. Pre-operative and subsequent scintigraphy is essential for exact determination of regional lung function. It was shown that short-lived radio-active gases, such as krypton 81, may indicate a total lack of ventilation where there is only a severe bronchial stenosis; the use of longer half-life nucleids, such as krypton 85 or xenon 133, provides good correlation with computer tomographic findings of a bronchial stenosis.