MDCT of the Chest Wall

Abstract

Muti-row-detector CT (MDCT) is the primary modality for evaluation of both congenital and acquired chest wall disorders. Imaging data from MDCT examinations provide anatomical detail and delineate relationships between adjacent structures. Three-dimensional reconstructions from the raw data can be used to enhance visualization of complex three-dimensional (3D) anatomy and for volumetric quantification to aid in surgical planning. This chapter illustrates the technical and practical considerations of utilizing MDCT in the evaluation of chest wall lesions, tumors, infections, and trauma and highlights MDCT advances in surgical planning, including 4D imaging and three-dimensional modeling and printing.