OBJECTIVE: Chest computed tomography (CT) is not performed routinely or worldwide as the initial diagnostic procedure for @entity1 with @entity135 ( @entity135 ). The significance of the chest CT scan for @entity135 diagnosis has not been thoroughly defined. The present study reports findings in an effort to broaden the acceptance and application of CT for @entity135 . METHODS: Using medical records, we assessed initial chest CT scans of the @entity1 with new-onset @entity135 between April 2004 and March 2010. The results were classified into three groups: nodules >= 1cm, small nodules (<1cm) 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 @entity1 with @entity135 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 @entity1 with @entity213 . RESULTS: In total, 332 @entity1 underwent a chest CT scan as part of the initial examination. Lung nodules were detected on the initial chest CT in 77 @entity1 : in contrast, lung nodules were detected on the initial chest X-ray in only five @entity1 . On initial chest CT scans, lung nodules >= 1cm were observed in 10 @entity1 , small solitary lung nodules were observed in 67 @entity1 , and lungs without nodules were observed in 255 @entity1 . Lung nodules were detected in 77 (23.2%) @entity1 , 25 (32.5%) of whom had malignant lung nodules. Moreover, in 18/67 @entity1 (26.9%), small lung nodules initially classified as indeterminate were determined as malignant at follow-up. However, 30/255 @entity1 (11.8%) without nodules at initial diagnosis developed lung nodules at follow-up. T3 or T4 disease (P=0.006), N2 or N3 disease (P<0.001) and stage 3 or 4 disease (P=0.001) individually and significantly correlated with the development of lung metastases. In addition, lung nodules in initial CT scans (P=0.004) and other distant metastases (P<0.001) were significant predictors for the development of lung metastases at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Initial chest CT scan is recommended for @entity1 with advanced @entity135 . Further, @entity1 with advanced @entity135 with or without lung nodules, as detected on initial chest CT scans, should be followed up with additional scanning.

Usefulness of chest CT scan for XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity135 :: ('MESH:D006258', 'Disease') :: ['head and neck cancer', 'HNC'] @entity213 :: ('MESH:C535575', 'Disease') :: ['head and neck squamous cell carcinoma']
@entity135 :: (MESH:D006258,Disease) :: ['head and neck cancer']
