Purpose: To compare the accuracy of thin-section CT, conventional static MR imaging (conventional MRI), and breathing dynamic echo planar magnetic resonance imaging (BDEPI) in evaluating lung cancer invasion to the chest wall.
Materials and methods: Thin-section CT, conventional MRI, and BDEPI were performed preoperatively in 20 patients suspected of having primary lung cancers adjacent to the chest wall on conventional CT. The results of imaging findings were compared with those of surgical and histopathological findings.
Results: All patients were confirmed to have no chest wall invasion after surgery. By thin-section CT, 10 of 20 patients were correctly diagnosed as having no chest wall invasion (50% specificity). Two of the 20 patients were incorrectly diagnosed as having chest wall invasion by conventional MRI and BDEPI (90% specificity).
Conclusion: When chest wall invasion is suspected on CT scans, static and breathing dynamic MRI are recommended to avoid false positive interpretations.