JOURNAL ARTICLE
REVIEW
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Atypical pulmonary metastases: spectrum of radiologic findings.

Typical radiologic findings of a pulmonary metastasis include multiple round variable-sized nodules and diffuse thickening of interstitium. In daily practice, however, atypical radiologic features of metastases are often encountered that make distinction of metastases from other nonmalignant pulmonary diseases difficult. A detailed knowledge of the atypical radiologic features of a pulmonary metastasis with a good understanding of the histopathologic background is essential for correct diagnosis. Squamous cell carcinoma is regarded as the most common cell type of a cavitating metastasis, but metastatic nodules from adenocarcinomas and sarcomas also cavitate occasionally. Calcification can occur in a metastatic sarcoma or adenocarcinoma, which makes differentiation from a benign granuloma or hamartoma difficult. Peritumoral hemorrhage results in areas of nodular attenuation surrounded by a halo of ground-glass opacity. Pneumothorax commonly occurs in metastases from an osteosarcoma. Air-space consolidation is often seen in cases of metastases from gastrointestinal tract malignancies. Even though tumor emboli in pulmonary arteries can be seen at computed tomography, diagnosis is difficult because they are located in small or medium arteries. A common radiologic appearance of an endobronchial metastasis is an atelectasis. In cases of an endobronchial or a solitary pulmonary metastasis, differentiation between bronchogenic carcinoma and metastasis is difficult. Dilated vascular structures within the mass can be seen in metastatic sarcomas. A sterilized metastasis after chemotherapy is radiologically indistinguishable from a residual viable tumor. Benign tumors such as uterine leiomyomas and giant cell tumors of the bone rarely metastasize to the lung.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app