Hashimoto M, Heianna J, Okane K, Hirano Y, Watarai J
Department of Radiology, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
Radiat Med. 1999 Nov-Dec;17(6):417-21.
The purpose of this study was to describe the CT findings of small cell carcinoma of the lung.
CT findings were retrospectively reviewed in 38 patients (34 men, 4 women; aged 46-73 years) with pathologically proven small cell carcinoma.
Tumors were located centrally in 23 cases (61%) and peripherally in 15 cases (39%). Twenty-seven patients had a bulky central mass with encasement of the great vessels or extrinsic compression of the airway (22 central tumors, 5 peripheral tumors). Six patients had peripheral lesions without adenopathy. Five peripheral small cell carcinomas demonstrated peribronchial thickening adjacent to the primary tumor.
The first sign of small cell carcinoma most typically is a bulky central mass that represents metastasis to the hilar and/or mediastinal lymph nodes. Although no findings specific to peripheral small cell carcinoma are available, small cell carcinoma originating from the peripheral lung parenchyma should be included in the differential diagnosis when peribronchial thickening is associated with the tumor.
