[Pre-operative staging of bronchial carcinomas: a comparison of computed tomography and conventional radiography (author's transl)].

Pre-operative staging was carried out in 52 out of 112 patients suspected of having bronchial carcinomas, using computed tomography and conventional radiology. CT was superior in demonstrating tumour infiltration of the mediastinum, of the thoracic wall and of metastases in mediastinal lymph nodes. Conventional radiology was better for demonstrating intrabronchial tumour and metastases of bronchopulmonary lymph nodes. By extending CT to the upper abdomen, it was possible to show metastases in 18% of patients.