Myeong Im Ahn

Perifissural Nodules Seen at CT Screening for Lung Cancer

PURPOSE To describe and characterize the potential for malignancy of noncalcified lung nodules adjacent to fissures that are often found in current or former heavy smokers who undergo computed tomography (CT) for lung cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Baseline and follow-up thin-section multidetector CT scans obtained in 146 consecutive subjects at high risk for lung cancer (age range, 50-75 years; > 30 pack-year smoking history) were retrospectively reviewed. Noncalcified nodules (NCNs) were categorized according to location (parenchymal, perifissural), shape, septal connection, manually measured diameter, diameter change, and lung cancer outcome at 7(1/2) years. RESULTS Retrospective review of images from 146 baseline and 311 follow-up CT examinations revealed 837 NCNs in 128 subjects. Of those 837 nodules, 234 (28%), in 98 subjects, were adjacent to a fissure and thus classified as perifissural nodules (PFNs). Multiple (range, 2-14) PFNs were seen in 47 subjects. Most PFNs were triangular (102/234, 44%) or oval (98/234, 42%), were located inferior to the carina (196/234, 84%), and had a septal connection (171/234, 73%). The mean maximal length was 3.2 mm (range, 1-13 mm). During 2-year follow-up in 71 subjects, seven of 159 PFNs increased in size on one scan but were then stable. The authors searched a lung cancer registry 7(1/2) years after study entry and found 10 lung cancers in 139 of 146 study subjects who underwent complete follow-up; none of these cancers had originated from a PFN. CONCLUSION PFNs are frequently seen on screening CT scans obtained in high-risk subjects. Although PFNs may show increased size at follow-up CT, the authors in this study found none that had developed into lung cancer; this suggests that the malignancy potential of PFNs is low. (c) RSNA, 2010.

Lung Cancer Screening Using Multi-Slice Thin-Section Computed Tomography and Autofluorescence Bronchoscopy

Background: Thoracic computed tomography (CT) for lung cancer screening is sensitive for the detection of early peripheral lung cancer but is not sensitive for detecting central preinvasive and microinvasive cancer. Our hypothesis is that the use of a two-step strategy, using a sputum biomarker, may increase the detection rate of lung cancer by identifying individuals at highest risk. Methods: We completed a pilot study of 561 volunteer current or former smokers 50 years of age or older, with a smoking history of more than or equal to 30 pack years. All subjects received induced sputum examination and low-dose thoracic CT scan and were offered autofluorescence bronchoscopy. Results: CT detected 2408 pulmonary nodules, 80% of which were less than or equal to 4 mm in diameter. During 2-year follow-up, 95% of these nodules were stable or resolved, with only 4% showing growth at any time. A total of 28 cancers were detected in 22 subjects: 21 by CT scan and seven by autofluorescence bronchoscopy. Overall, 0.9% nodules were malignant, but growth on more than or equal to two CT scans increased the malignancy rate to 75%. The mean diameter of malignant nodules on detection was 12.8 mm (range, 3 to 36.4 mm). However, 18% of malignant nodules were less than or equal to 4 mm in diameter when first seen. Conclusions: Multi-detector row CT scanners found multiple small nodules in most subjects screened, but most were stable over the 2-year follow-up. Persistent interval growth increases the probability of malignancy from less than 1% to 75%. One quarter of detected cancers were CT occult and only seen with autofluorescence bronchoscopy. Prescreening using a sputum biomarker improved the detection rate of lung cancer from 3 to 5%.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Correlation with Clinical Parameters and Prognosis

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) vary in their biologic behavior. Recurrence and tumor-related mortality may be attributable to molecular abnormalities in primary tumors. This study evaluated such immunophenotypes with regard to cell cycle regulation and proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, to determine their significance for patient outcome. Core biopsies from 219 patients with NSCLC were assembled on tissue microarrays, and the expressions of p16, p21, p27, cyclin B1, cyclin E, Ki-67, caspase-3, survivin, bcl-2, VEGF, and endostatin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Despite previously described prognostic relevance of some of the investigated molecules, many of those markers were not directly associated with recurrence or survival. However, there was a trend for p16 immunoreactivity to be associated with a good prognosis (57% vs. 42% in 5-yr survival) (p=0.071). bcl-2 expression was strongly correlated with a better outcome (65% vs. 45% in 5-yr survival) (p=0.029), and the hazard of death for bcl-2 positive patients was 0.42 times of that for bcl-2 negative patients (p=0.047). A multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazards model confirmed that the lymph node status (p=0.043) and stage (p=0.003) were other independent prognostic factors. Our results suggest that p16 and bcl-2 provide prognostic information independent of the TNM stage in NSCLC.

Benign tumors of the tracheobronchial tree: CT-pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this essay is to illustrate the CT findings of variable benign tumors of the tracheobronchial tree and to correlate the CT and pathologic findings in 17 patients. CONCLUSION The tracheal tumors were eccentric, well-defined, polypoid masses in all cases. The endobronchial tumors were masses confined within the bronchus in all cases, and atelectasis or pneumonia of the distal parenchyma was frequently associated. Of the six hamartomas, one was a fatty mass, and two were nodules with calcification. The others were soft-tissue-density nodules. The lipomas manifested as fat density on CT scans in both cases. The other benign tumors were low-attenuating, soft-tissue-density masses without characteristic findings on CT scans.

Poland's syndrome with lung cancer. A case report.

Polands syndrome, a rare congenital anomaly characterized by pectoralis muscle defect, has been reported in association with lymphoreticular malignancies and some solid tumors. Lung cancer associated with Polands syndrome has not been previously described. We present the first report of a case of Polands syndrome associated with lung cancer and demonstrate the CT findings.

Magnetic resonance arthrography including aber view in diagnosing partial-thickness tears of the rotator cuff: Accuracy, and inter- and intra-observer agreements

Background: Partial-thickness tear of the rotator cuff is a common cause of shoulder pain. Magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography has been described as a useful measure to diagnose rotator cuff abnormalities. Purpose: To determine the reliability and accuracy of MR arthrography with abduction and external rotation (ABER) view for the diagnosis of partial-thickness tears of the rotator cuff. Material and Methods: Among patients who underwent MR arthrographies, 22 patients (12 men, 10 women; mean age 45 years) who had either partial-thickness tear or normal tendon on arthroscopy were included. MR images were independently scored by two observers for partial-thickness tears of the rotator cuff. Interobserver and intraobserver agreements for detection of partial-thickness tears of the rotator cuff were calculated by using κ coefficients. The differences in areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were assessed with a univariate Z-score test. Differences in sensitivity and specificity for interpretations based on different imaging series were tested for significance using the McNemar statistic. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each reader on MR imaging without ABER view were 83%, 90%, and 86%, and 83%, 80%, and 82%, respectively, whereas on overall interpretation including ABER view, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each reader were 92%, 70%, and 82%, and 92%, 80%, and 86%, respectively. Including ABER view, interobserver agreement for partial-thickness tear increased from κ=0.55 to κ=0.68. Likewise, intraobserver agreements increased from κ=0.79 and 0.53 to κ=0.81 and 0.70 for each reader, respectively. The areas under the ROC curves for each reader were 0.96 and 0.90, which were not significantly different. Conclusion: Including ABER view in routine sequences of MR arthrography increases the sensitivity, and inter- and intraobserver agreements for detecting partial-thickness tear of rotator cuff tendon.

Acute Pulmonary Complications in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

Various acute pulmonary complications may occur in patients with hematologic malignancies because they are in an immunocompromised state due to systemic disease or to chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Pulmonary complications may arise from other treatment regimens, as well, or from direct pulmonary involvement in the malignant disease process. The differential diagnosis of pulmonary opacities in patients with hematologic malignancies is broad and includes both infectious and noninfectious causes. Pulmonary hemorrhage, edema, leukostasis, and pneumonia are well-known and common acute pulmonary complications. Less common complications are now encountered with increasing frequency because of the increasing complexity of therapeutic regimens for hematologic malignancies, which may include various drugs that are in clinical trials or were recently released to market. These once uncommon acute pulmonary complications include retinoic acid syndrome, tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced pulmonary complications, engraftment syndrome, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. It is often difficult to differentiate between these entities. However, the clinical setting and radiologic imaging findings may provide clues for interpreting imaging findings of abnormal pulmonary opacity in patients with a hematologic malignancy. Pulmonary hemorrhage is characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms and rapid progression of pulmonary imaging abnormalities and usually occurs in patients with impaired coagulation or a predisposition to bleed. Pulmonary edema should be considered when typical findings of hydrostatic pulmonary edema are seen. Pulmonary leukostasis develops in patients with hyperleukocytosis and leads to symptoms such as a cough, fever, and dyspnea. Various types of pneumonia may develop, depending on the degree and duration of immunosuppression in the patient. Retinoic acid syndrome, tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced pulmonary complications, and engraftment syndrome occur after specific treatments, so a detailed medical history including recent or current treatments may be helpful for diagnosis. Accurate differentiation of these entities allows their appropriate management, with resultant decreases in morbidity and mortality.

Histopathologic Findings Related to the Indeterminate or Inadequate Results of Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Correlation with Ultrasonographic Findings in Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas

Objective To determine histopathologic findings related to the indeterminate or inadequate result of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) and to correlate histopathological findings with ultrasonographic features of tumors. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of FNAB, histopathologic characteristics, and sonographic findings of the solid portion of 95 PTCs in 95 patients. All cases were pathologically confirmed by surgery. Histopathologic characteristics were analyzed for tumor distribution, microcystic changes, fibrosis, and tumor component. We assumed several histopathologic conditions to be the cause of indeterminate or inadequate results of FNAB, including: 1) an uneven tumor distribution, 2) > 30% microcystic changes, 3) > 30% fibrosis, and 4) < 30% tumor component. Ultrasonographic findings of each PTC were evaluated for echotexture (homogeneous or heterogeneous), echogenicity (markedly hypoechoic, hypoechoic, isoechoic, or hyperechoic), and volume of the nodule. We correlated histopathologic characteristics of the PTC with results of the FNAB and ultrasonographic findings. Results From 95 FNABs, 71 cases (74%) were confirmed with malignancy or suspicious malignancy (PTCs), 21 (22%) had indeterminate results (atypical cells), and three (4%) were negative for malignancy. None of the assumed variables influenced the diagnostic accuracy of FNAB. Tumor distribution and fibrosis were statistically correlated with ultrasonographic findings of the PTCs (p < 0.05). Uneven tumor distribution was related with small tumor volume, and fibrosis over 30% was correlated with homogeneous echotexture, markedly hypoechoic and hypoechoic echogenicity, and small tumor volume (p < 0.05). Conclusion No histopathologic component was found to correlate with improper results of FNAB in PTCs. In contrast, two histopathologic characteristics, uneven distribution and fibrosis, were correlated with ultrasonographic findings.

High-resolution CT findings of re-expansion pulmonary edema.

Objective To describe the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE) following a thoracentesis for a spontaneous pneumothorax. Materials and Methods HRCT scans from 43 patients who developed REPE immediately after a thoracentesis for treatment of pneumothorax were retrospectively analyzed. The study group consisted of 41 men and two women with a mean age of 34 years. The average time interval between insertion of the drainage tube and HRCT was 8.5 hours (range, 1-24 hours). The patterns and distribution of the lung lesions were analyzed and were assigned one of the following classifications: consolidation, ground-glass opacity (GGO), intralobular interstitial thickening, interlobular septal thickening, thickening of bronchovascular bundles, and nodules. The presence of pleural effusion and contralateral lung involvement was also assessed. Results Patchy areas of GGO were observed in all 43 patients examined. Consolidation was noted in 22 patients (51%). The geographic distribution of GGO and consolidation was noted in 25 patients (58%). Interlobular septal thickening and intralobular interstitial thickening was noted in 28 patients (65%), respectively. Bronchovascular bundle thickening was seen in 13 patients (30%), whereas ill-defined centrilobular GGO nodules were observed in five patients (12%). The lesions were predominantly peripheral in 38 patients (88%). Of these lesions, gravity-dependent distribution was noted in 23 cases (53%). Bilateral lung involvement was noted in four patients (9%), and a small amount of pleural effusion was seen in seven patients (16%). Conclusion The HRCT findings of REPE were peripheral patchy areas of GGO that were frequently combined with consolidation as well as interlobular septal and intralobular interstitial thickening.

Middle mediastinal lesions: imaging findings and pathologic correlation

Lesions primarily involving the middle mediastinum are uncommon and include lymph node diseases, cystic lesions, neurogenic tumors, mesenchymal tumors, tumors of mediastinal organ, amd other benign processes. In this article, we illustrate imaging findings of a variety of middle mediastinal lesions with pathologic correlation.