Correlation between high-resolution computed tomographic, magnetic resonance and pathological findings in cases with non-cancerous but suspicious lung nodules

• Published in: European radiology Vol. 10; no. 11; pp. 1782 - 1791
• Main Authors: Li, F, Sone, S, Maruyama, Y, Takashima, S, Yang, Z G, Hasegawa, M, Honda, T, Yamanda, T, Kubo, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01.01.2000
• Subjects: Aged; Female; Humans; Lung - pathology; Lung Diseases, Fungal - diagnosis; Lung Diseases, Fungal - diagnostic imaging; Lung Diseases, Fungal - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - diagnosis; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - diagnostic imaging; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - pathology; Tomography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 0938-7994; 1432-1084
• DOI: 10.1007/s003300000426

Computed tomography scans, including thin-section high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), occasionally fail to differentiate between small non-cancerous nodules from lung cancers. We describe nine such lesions ( < 20 mm in diameter) initially identified through our screening program for lung cancer using CT scanning. Pathological diagnoses included nodular fibrosis (n = 4), granuloma (n = 1), cryptococcoma (n = 1), localised organising pneumonia (n = 1), inflammatory pseudo-tumour (n = 1) and sclerosing haemangioma (n = 1). High-resolution CT findings, together with MRI findings with contrast-enhanced dynamic studies, were retrospectively evaluated. Additional cases should be identified and radiologically characterised in order to reduce the number of non-cancerous tumours that are treated by unnecessary surgery.