The Journal of urology
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The Journal of urology · Sep 1993
Comparative StudyChest staging in testis cancer patients: imaging modality selection based upon risk assessment as determined by abdominal computerized tomography scan results.
We compared chest computerized tomography (CT) to chest x-ray as chest staging modalities in testis cancer patients on the basis of abdominal CT findings. We identified 92 patients who presented with negative staging abdominal CT scans and 52 with abnormal abdominal CT scans. Of these patients 42 and 32, respectively, underwent a chest x-ray and chest CT concurrently as part of the initial staging evaluation. ⋯ The use of chest CT as a staging modality in abdominal CT negative patients failed to increase diagnostic sensitivity relative to chest x-ray alone. However, in 32 patients with abnormal abdominal CT scans the use of chest x-ray alone would have missed intrathoracic metastatic disease in 4. These data suggest that chest x-ray may be the preferred initial chest staging study for testis cancer patients with negative abdominal CT, while chest CT is mandated in patients with abnormal abdominal CT.