J Korean Radiol Soc.  1997 Dec;37(6):1051-1057.

Lymphangitic Carcinomatosis of the Lung: Serial Changes on High-Resolution CT

• Hwang JW
• Kim Y
• Hwang JH
• Kim TS
• Ro DW
• Lee KS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To present initial and follow-up HRCT findings of lymphangitic carcinomatosis of the lung.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Both initial and follow-up HRCT scans were obtained in 18 patients with lymphangitic carcinomatosis of the lung. After dividing the patients into two groups (with anticancer chemotherapy (n=12) and without chemotherapy (n=6), changes of pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities (percentile increase or decrease in the extent of each pattern) were assessed and compared on initial and follow-up HRCTs.
RESULTS
Findings on initial CT were interlobular septal thickening (n=18) (smooth in 15 and mixed smooth and nodular in three), thickening of bronchovascular bundles (n=17), areas of ground-glass opacity (n=15), polygonal lines (n=15), and nodules (n=10). With chemotherapy, the finding of polygonal lines decreased by 20/3%, while findings of ground-glass opacity, bronchovascular bundle thickening, septal thickening, and nodules remained stable. Without chemotherapy, all CT patterns of abnormalities except nodules increased by 45-88%. In three patients who did not undergo chemotherapy, smooth interlobular septal thickening changed to nodular thickening.
CONCLUSION
Lymphangitic carcinomatosis of the lung manifests initially as smooth thickening of the interlobular septae, bronchovascular bundle thickening,areas of ground-glass opacity, and polygonal lines, as seen on HRCT. Without chemotherapy, the extent of CT findings increases and there is a tendency for smooth septal thickening to change to nodular thickening. Chemotherapy induces improvement or cessation of the progression of CT findings.

Keyword

Lung neoplasms, metastases; Lymphatic system, neoplasms; Lung neoplasms, CT

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma*
Drug Therapy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lung*