Chest computed tomography (CT) is not performed routinely or worldwide as the initial diagnostic procedure for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The significance of the chest CT scan for HNC diagnosis has not been thoroughly defined. The present study reports findings in an effort to broaden the acceptance and application of CT for HNC.Using medical records, we assessed initial chest CT scans of the patients with new-onset HNC between April 2004 and March 2010. The results were classified into three groups: nodules ≥ 1 cm, small nodules (< 1 cm) that were indeterminate and normal lungs without nodules. Lung nodules that increased in size and/or number at follow-up were regarded as malignant. First, the sensitivity of X-ray and CT for detection of lung nodules in patients with HNC was compared. Second, the nodules were estimated to be malignant or not malignant by follow-up chest CT. Third, statistical analyses were performed to determine the association between variables and distant lung metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.In total, 332 patients underwent a chest CT scan as part of the initial examination. Lung nodules were detected on the initial chest CT in 77 patients: in contrast, lung nodules were detected on the initial chest X-ray in only five patients. On initial chest CT scans, lung nodules ≥ 1 cm were observed in 10 patients, small solitary lung nodules were observed in 67 patients, and lungs without nodules were observed in 255 patients. Lung nodules were detected in 77 (23.2

作者：Takahiro, Fukuhara；Kazunori, Fujiwara；Taihei, Fujii；Kenichi, Takeda；Eriko, Matsuda；Kensaku, Hasegawa；Kenichi, Nomura；Hiroya, Kitano

来源：Auris, nasus, larynx 2015 年 42卷 1期