Radionuclide studies in bronchogenic carcinoma of the Hilum. Scintigraphy and tomography: their complementary features.

Thirty-eight cases with direct or indirect signs of hilar masses were investigated by roentgenologic, radioisotopic and surgical methods. Reasonable correlation between tomography and scintigraphy was confirmed, substantiating their complementary nature. Bronchogenic carcinoma of the central airways was most frequent among the hilar masses. Masses as well as other involvement of the bronchovascular structures of the hilum on conventional tomography were confirmed by the gallium-67 scan, and inhalation and perfusion scintigraphy. Some cases which simulated bronchogenic carcinoma were presented. Hilar masses without destruction of the bronchovascular structures showed normal inhalation and perfusion scintigrams with positive gallium-67 accumulation. These lesions were metastatic cancer, malignant lymphoma, and sarcoidosis. If these diseases involve the airways and the vessels of the hilum, differentiation from bronchogenic carcinoma may naturally be difficult.