Table 2

Utility of commonly used imaging modalities

Imaging modalityScenario where radical treatment is considered
MRI

  • To evaluate indeterminate lesions of the bone, adrenal glands and liver

  • To evaluate superior sulcus tumours: superior to axial CT, complementary18[3] to MDCT

  • To evaluate tumours in close proximity to spinal cord

UltrasoundFor image-guided sampling of cervical lymph nodes, pleural disease, pleural effusion and metastatic deposits (eg, liver)
Bone scintigraphyTo screen for bone metastases when there is clinical or biochemical evidence of bone metastases (PET may be avoided in the early diagnostic pathway)

  • MDCT, multidetector computed tomography; PET, positron emission tomography.