Malignant Pulmonary Neoplasms Causing Airspace Consolidation: CT Findings

PURPOSE: To determine the CT findings of consolidative malignant neoplasms of the lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients in whom pulmonary consolidation was seen on chest radiography were involved in this study. In all cases malignancy was subsequently proven; the neoplasms involved were bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (n = 9), malignant lymphoma (n = 4), mucoepidermoid tumor (n = 1), metastasis from colon cancer (n = 2), and metastasis from pancreatic mucinous adenocarcinoma (n =1). CT images were retrospectively analyzed in terms of enhancement pattern of the consolidation, morphologic appearance of an air-bronchogram, CT angiogram sign, pseudocavitation, and lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: Visually assessed enhancement pattern of the consolidation showed lower attenuation than adjacent muscles in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (8/9) and metastasis (1/3); isoattenuation in malignant lymphoma (3/4), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (1/1), and metastasis (1/3); and higher attenuation in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (1/9), malignant lymphoma (1/4), and metastasis (1/3). Among the 15 of 17 patients for whom an air-bronchogram was available, a stretching and squeezing pattern was seen in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (4/9), malignant lymphoma (3/4), and metastasis (1/3). CT angiogram sign was identified in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (5/9), malignant lymphoma (2/4), and metastasis (3/3). Pseudocavitation was observed in two patients with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, while lymphadenopathy was seen in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (4/9), malignant lymphoma (3/4), and metastasis (1/3). Conglomerate and extrathoracic lymphadenopathy are commonly associated with malignant lymphoma. CONCLUSION: Malignant neoplasms which apper as consolidative lung lesions appear not only as bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, which is well known, but also in other forms. Although these lesions cannot be differentiated on the basis of air-bronchography and CT angiography, poor enhancement of consolidative lesion and pseudocavitation are characteristic findings of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, and conglomerate or extrathoracic lymphadenopathy are also characteristic of malignant lymphoma.

Acute Aortic Intramural Hematoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic findings of acute intramural hematoma of the aorta, and the clinical follow up thereof. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 34 cases confirmed clinically and radiologically as aortic dissection, an analysis was carried out based on 15 cases in which intramural hematoma without false lumen was demonstrated, on initial CT, 12 cases of in which follow up CT was used and five cases involving an aortogram. Elements such as the shape of the thickened aortic wall, ulcer-like intimal defects, and intimal calcification were examined. Changes in these elements were also examined on follow up CT. RESULTS: DeBackey types I and III accounted for one and 14 cases. respectively. Initial precontrast CT demonstrated continuous, crescentic high attenuation areas along the wall of the descending aorta. In postcontrast scans, the crescentic areas were of relatively lower-attenuation and appeared along the aorta wall. Displaced intimal calcifications were seen in nine of fifteen patients. There was no intimal flap on all five aortogram, while aortic wall thickening and atherosclerotic change were demonstrated in four cases and in one case, case, respectively. Focal ulcers were seen in three cases. Ulcer-like intimal defects were demonstrated in a total of eleven cases (eight on CT, two on aortogram, and one on both). In ten of the twelve cases seen on follow up CT, the thickness of the intramural hematoma was seen to be reduced. Among the 15 cases, the operation was performed in two cases, and the remaining 13 received conservative treatment. In ten cases observed for more than twelve months, a recurrence of symptoms did not occur. CONCLUSION: Eccentric aortic wall thickening in patients who complain of acute chest pain is the result of acute aortic dissection with intramural hematoma, or a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the aorta.The latter may be differentiated from the former by the presence of on ulcer-like intimal defect. When both diseases are limited to the descending aorta, conservative treatment may be effective, unless patients experience persistent or recurrent chest pain, or unless intramural hematoma progresses further.