To determine the efficacy of radiologic techniques in preoperative staging of the mediastinum for lung carcinoma, the authors studied 45 patients with chest films supplemented with oblique views, esophagrams, gallium scans, and computed tomograms (CT). They interpreted the studies and correlated surgical findings using a modified classification of lymph node regions. The mediastinum was positive on chest films in 14 of the 21 cases with pathologically proved mediastinal metastases (33% false-negative). Gallium scans in cases with a positive primary were positive in 12 of 15 cases with mediastinal or hilar metastases (20% false-negative). Computed tomography showed nodes over 1 or 1.5 cm in size in or adjacent to the biopsy-positive node region in 18 of 19 patients (5% false-negative), extranodal mediastinal involvement, and 9 of 10 proven hilar metastases. Computed tomography is a sensitive screening technique in patients who would otherwise require an invasive staging procedure, but is not highly specific (false-positive rate 38%).