Thoracic Key

Airways Clinical Indications Computed tomography (CT) remains the most accurate noninvasive means for evaluating the airways and is of established value for imaging virtually the entire gamut of diseases that…

Pleura, Chest Wall, and Diaphragm Very early in its development, the value of computed tomography (CT) was recognized in assessing pleural and chest-wall diseases (1,2). This reflects in part the…

Diffuse Lung Disease Despite the well-established role of chest radiography in accurately and inexpensively displaying a wide range of pulmonary parenchymal pathology, equally well established limitations have been documented (1,…

Mediastinum Computed tomography (CT) is indispensable in imaging the mediastinum. Although conventional radiographs can show recognizable abnormalities in many patients with mediastinal pathology, radiographs are limited in their sensitivity and…

Focal Lung Disease Although assessment of patients with focal lung abnormalities continues to represent an important problem in pulmonary diagnosis (1, 2, 3), the past decade has seen important developments…

Lung Cancer Introduction/Epidemiology At the outset of the 21st century, lung cancer remains one of the world’s leading causes of preventable death (1). In the United States alone, it was…

Pulmonary Arterial Disease Normal Anatomy The main pulmonary artery arises at the base of the right ventricle and extends superiorly for a distance of approximately 5 cm before dividing into…

Aorta, Arch Vessels, and Great Veins Over the past decade, rapid changes in imaging technology have revolutionized our ability to study the great vessels of the thorax. Parallel developments in…

Heart Cardiac disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Unlike other organs of the body, the heart is constantly subject to both…