Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Radio-diagnosis

The right pleura was more commonly affected than the left with the circumferential pattern of the disease being much more evident than the focal type. The commonest findings on CT besides the pleural thickening were pleural effusion, fissural extension and endothoracic fascia involvement. Most cases showed decreased volume of the affected hemithorax. Involvement of the lung tissue whether hematogenous or lymphangitic spread was easily attainable. More than 50% of cases showed pericardial affection. Direct chest wall involvement was also a common finding unlike hematogeneous bone metastases. CT was acceptable when it came to assessing chest wall affection unlike disphargamtic and transdiaphragmatic involvement which was suspected in and couldn{u2019}t be determined in 31% of cases. CT study of the chest for cases of MPM was able to evaluate and diagnose the disease, with most of the important staging items being easily seen on CT yet this study also showed the limitations of CT in the staging MPM since CT alone was not able to prove the involvement of the chest wall, diaphragmatic muscle and transdiaphragmatic extension. As well as the mediastinal lymph nodes, since their presence and size alone isn{u2019}t an indication for their involvement in the disease

Issued also as CD