CT findings of pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate CT findings of pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC). Methods CT findings of 244 patients with pathologically proved pulmonary LELC were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent nonenhancement CT scan, 226 of them also underwent contrast-enhanced CT scan. Results: Totally 132 (132/244, 54.10%) central tumors and 112 (112/244, 45.90%) peripheral tumors were identified. The maximum diameter of lesion was ranged from 1.2 cm to 13.1 cm, with average (5.42±2.64)cm. The lesions were characterized with 49 (49/244, 20.08%) nodules and 195 (195/244, 79.92%) masses. Totally 169 (169/244, 69.26%) tumors were found with well-defined borders, 183 (183/244, 75.00%) showed lobulations, and 104 (104/244, 42.62%) showed spiculation. The tumor located closely with the mediastinum in 184 cases (184/244, 75.41%), while pleural change of tail sign was observed in 111 cases (111/244, 45.49%). The tumor showed homogeneous density on nonenhancement CT in 158 cases (158/244, 64.75%), moderate enhancement in 160 cases (160/223, 71.75%), gradually enhancement in 145 cases (145/193, 75.13%), while 108 cases (108/193, 55.96%) showed abnormal small vessels and 81 cases (81/193, 41.97%) showed vascular encasements. Bronchial encasement and/or stenosis was found in 185 cases (185/244, 75.82%). Ground-glass opacity around the lesion was detected in 124 cases (124/244, 50.82%), when interstitial thickening was noticed in 81 cases (81/244, 33.20%) and obstructive pneumonia or pulmonary atelectasis was found in 132 cases (132/244, 54.10%). Hilar and/or mediastinal lymph node enlargement was found in 167 cases (167/244, 68.44%). Conclusion: Most pulmonary LELC occurres in right middle lobe and bilateral lower lobe of lung, and appeares as well-defined and slight lobulated tumor with enlarged lymph nodes. Vascular encasements, closely associated with mediastinum, pleural change of tail sign, ground-glass opacity and interstitial thickening are comparative characteristics of pulmonary LELC.