Der Radiologe
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Lung cancer is by far the most frequent type of cancer worldwide and in particular the most frequent cause of cancer deaths. The most important risk factor is smoking and abstinence is therefore the most effective primary prevention for lung cancer. ⋯ European trials in parallel to the USA National lung screening trial (NLST), including a German trial will also address these issues and will thus be continued. Before the final analysis in several years time routine lung cancer screening with MSCT cannot be recommended and MSCT lung screening can only be performed within the framework of studies.
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The second part of this educational article focuses on sequence techniques in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and on suitable parameter sets for different contrast weightings. The content is based on the recently published part 1 of this educational article providing a survey on tissue properties relevant for most important contrast mechanisms. ⋯ Typical clinical applications of the most commonly used contrast weightings are described and discussed. Sequences for the following contrast weightings are included: proton density (density of hydrogen in small mobile molecules), relaxation times T1 and T2, chemical shift (water and fat), effects of magnetic susceptibility, restricted diffusion of water molecules and magnetization transfer between macromolecules and water molecules.
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Since the widespread use of computed tomography (CT), the detection of pulmonary nodules has considerably increased and has become part of the daily clinical routine. In the evaluation of pulmonary nodules, malignant nodules have to be differentiated from benign pulmonary nodules with a high level of confidence. The diagnostic approach for pulmonary nodules depends on the pretest probability for malignancy. ⋯ For indeterminate pulmonary nodules >8 mm, management is based on patient surgical risk and pretest probability for malignancy. Either CT follow-up alone, 18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) or non-surgical biopsy for tissue diagnosis are utilized to evaluate the lesions. For pulmonary nodules with a high pretest probability for malignancy, surgical resection is recommended unless specifically contraindicated.