J Korean Radiol Soc.  1996 Mar;34(3):373-380.

CT Findings of Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

• Jeon TJ
• Kim SJ
• Lee DY
• Ahn CM

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate CT findings of primary adenocarcinoma of the lung and to assess distant metastasis atthe time of diagnosis. MATERIALS & METHODS: CT findings of 150 patients with adenocarcinoma, confirmed by histopathologic methods, were classified as central or peripheral lesions and pattern analysis of typical findingsnoted in this cancer was carried out. Intra and extrathoracic metastases of adenocarcinoma were also investigated.
RESULTS
Of 150 cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung, 121 were found to be of the peripheral type and 29 were of the central type. These peripheral lesions comprised 105 nodules, 11 consolidations, four cavities and one linear lesion, while the central lesions consisted of 19 cases of atelectasis and tens of bronchial wall thickening. Lungto lung(nine cases), lymphangitic(five cases), and pleural metastasis(16 cases) were presented as intrathoracic metastasis, while bone(17), brain(six), liver(two) and adrenal metastasis(one case) were presented as extrathoracic metastasis.
CONCLUSION
The most common radiologic finding of adenocarcinoma is a peripheral single mass or nodule but consolidation, cavity or tubular lesions, as well as atelectasis or bronchial wall thickening alone can be presented as unusual findings of adenocarcinoma. As a consequence, it is in many cases difficult to differentially diagnose. Distant metastasis was also noted in many cases of early T-stage lesion, so to successfully manage the patient, careful evaluation of the metastasis is essential.

Keyword

Lung neoplasms, CT; Lung neoplasms, staging

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma*
Diagnosis
Humans
Lung*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pulmonary Atelectasis
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