Diagnosis of multiple pulmonary cavernous hemangiomas via dual-layer spectral CT: A case report.

RATIONALE

Cavernous hemangioma is a benign vascular tumor, which very rarely occurs in the lung. When appearing as multiple nodules on chest CT, this tumor can be misdiagnosed as metastatic malignancy.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 72-year-old woman presented with incidentally found multiple lung nodules on chest radiograph.

DIAGNOSES

Based on information derived from dual-layer spectral CT images, the possibility of slow flow vascular tumor such as cavernous hemangioma was suggested. A pathologic diagnosis of pulmonary cavernous hemangioma was made via video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy.

INTERVENTIONS

After tissue confirmation, the patient was discharged without further intervention.

OUTCOMES

The patient recovered without any event. Follow-up chest CT performed 6 months later showed no significant interval change in nodule size and distribution.

LESSONS

Material decomposition images obtained from dual energy CT can help physicians understand the character of tumor vascularity for an accurate diagnosis of pulmonary cavernous hemangioma.