OBJECITVE To investigate the value of multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in demonstrating the relationship between bronchial and peripheral lung cancer.METHODS MSCT was used to conduct volumetric targeted scans of 0.5 mm collimation for 53 cases of peripheral lung cancer and to demonstrate the relationship between bronchial and peripheral lung cancer by multiplanar reconstrUctions(MPR) images, curved multiplanar reformations(CMPR) and surface shaded display(SSD). The results were compared with macroscopic and microscopic specimens.RESULTS 1) All the bronchi at the 3rd to 7th order were displayed clearly and completely with this CT protocol. The tumors that were related to the bronchus included 29 (96.7%) adenocarcinomas and 13 (76.5%) squamous-cell carcinomas. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups (x2 =2.8, P ＞0.05). 2) The tumorbronchus relationship was divided into four subtypes, i.e. type Ⅰ: the bronchus was obstructed by a tumor, type Ⅱ: the bronchus was obstructed when penetrated by a tumor with tapered narrowing; type Ⅲ: the bronchial lumen shown within the tumor was unobstructed and intact, type Ⅳ: the bronchus ran at the periphery of a tumor, with an intact or narrowed lumen.3) Type Ⅰ occurred in 58.5% (31 cases), in which squamous-cell carcinoma was slightly more common than adenocarcinoma. Both type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ were seen in 15.1%(eight cases of each), of which all were adenocarcinomas. The incidence rate of type Ⅳ was 28.3% (15 cases), of which adenocarcinoma was slightly more frequent than squamous-cell carcinoma. 4)Squamous-cell carcinoma was more common than adenocarcinoma in the tumors in the fourth-order bronchus, whereas adenocarcinoma was more common than squamous-cell carcinoma in tumors with a relationship to the sixth-order bronchus.CONCLUSION MSCT with volumetric targeted scans of ultra-thin sections were conducted followed by MPR,CMPR and SSD reconstruction. This procedure can accurately demonstrate the relationship between the nature of tumors and bronchus and thereby to some extent reflect pathological changes.