Monday, September 24, 2012

From Mount Sinai: Lung Cancer Associated With Cystic Airspaces

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22997368


 2012 Oct;199(4):781-786.

Lung Cancer Associated With Cystic Airspaces.

Source

Department of Radiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Pl, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of lung cancers associated with a discrete cystic airspace and to characterize the morphologic and pathologic features of the cancer and the cystic airspace.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We reviewed all diagnosed cases of lung cancer resulting from baseline screening (n = 595) and annual screening (n = 111) in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program to identify those abutting or in the wall of a cystic airspace. We also reviewed the pathologic specimens.

RESULTS:

A total of 26 lung cancers were identified abutting or in the wall of a cystic airspace. Of these, 13 were identified at baseline (13/595, 2%) and 13 at annual screening (13/111, 12%), which was significant (p < 0.0001). The median circumferential portion of wall involved was less for the annual cancers than for the baseline ones, but this difference did not reach significance (90° vs 240°, p = 0.07). The diagnosis was adenocarcinoma in all but three cases. Histologic analysis showed that the cystic space was a bulla, a fibrous walled cyst without a defined lining, or a pleural bleb and that in all but one case, the tumor was eccentric relative to the airspace and the wall of the airspace was unevenly thickened.

CONCLUSION:

At annual repeat CT screening, the finding of an isolated cystic airspace with increased wall thickness should raise the suspicion oflung cancer.

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