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Document Type

Original Article

Abstract

Objective: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) routine diagnostic procedures often include computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Histological confirmation by pleural biopsy is required for the MPM diagnosis to be finalized.

Aim of our study: to compare among findings of chest CT, MRI and medical thoracoscopy (MT) for MPM identification.

Patients and methods: Fifty patients (30 Males and 20 females) with definitive MPM diagnosis after (MT) biopsy, underwent chest CT and MRI chest.

Results: There was statistically significant parameters for MRI versus CT for pleural thickening, it was 64% versus 44% (p= 0.044). Post contrast enhancement in MRI was 68% versus 62% for CT (p = 0.006). Chest wall, vascular or mediastinum invasion in MRI was 24% versus 0% for CT (p = 0.001). Pleural nodularities in CT was 36% versus12% for MRI (p = 0.005). Comparing MT and CT features there was highly statistically significant difference with (p < 0.001), as regard nodularity, (90% versus 36%), and increased pleural thickening, (88% versus 44%) for MT and CT respectively. Comparing CT and MRI finding, there was a very significant difference in terms of statistics. with (p < 0.001), for nodularity, (90% versus 12%), and increased pleural thickening (88% versus 64%) for MT and MRI respectively with (p < 0.004).

Conclusion: MRI diagnostic performance is comparable or superior to CT in suspicion of MPM except for nodular pleural thickening. An early and significant identification of MPM may be reached, providing MRI as a tool for diagnosis.

Keywords

MRI; CT; Medical Thoracoscopy, MPM

Subject Area

Chest

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