Jia Liu1, Wenwu Li2, Yong Huang2, Yuhui Liu2. 1. Department of Radiology, Shandong Tumor Hospital, Affilialed to Shandong Acadaemy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250017, China;School of Medicine and Life Scineces, University of Jinan-Shandong Acadamy of Medical Scineces, Jinan 250007, China. 2. Department of Radiology, Shandong Tumor Hospital, Affilialed to Shandong Acadaemy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250017, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The rate of pleural metastasis in peripheral lung cancer is high, and the dry pleural metastasis easily missed diagnosis preoperatively and cause unnecessary surgery. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis is particularly important. To review the multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) image of peripheral lung cancer with dry pleural dissemination, and to discuss its diagnostic value for understanding the dry pleural dissemination. METHODS: Reviewed and analyzed the MSCT images of pathologically or clinically diagnosed peripheral lung cancer with dry pleural dissemination in 27 patients. Analyze the imaging characteristics respectively from pleural thickening and pleural nodules. RESULTS: The dry pleural dissemination of lung cancer were detected in 85% by CT. The rate of CT detection of dissemination on the visceral pleura and the interlobar pleura were 63% and 91%, respectively. 26 cases were with multiple pleural nodules, all were located on the same side with the primary lesions; 8 cases were with peritoneum visceralis nodules that are mostly circular with diameters of 3 mm-15 mm. The lung-nodules interfaces were clear. 23 cases had interlobar pleura nodules (all with more than 6 nodules), some are big (diameter >5 mm) while some are small (diameter <5 mm). The nodules are arranged along the interlobar pleura as beaded string or in clusters around the interlobar pleura. 15 cases were with pleural thickening, including band-like, uneven, or both exist at the same time. There are more mixed type in this group (63%). CONCLUSIONS: MSCT has great diagnostic value for peripheral lung cancer with dry pleural dissemination, especially with high accuracy of pleural nodules.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The rate of pleural metastasis in peripheral lung cancer is high, and the dry pleural metastasis easily missed diagnosis preoperatively and cause unnecessary surgery. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis is particularly important. To review the multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) image of peripheral lung cancer with dry pleural dissemination, and to discuss its diagnostic value for understanding the dry pleural dissemination. METHODS: Reviewed and analyzed the MSCT images of pathologically or clinically diagnosed peripheral lung cancer with dry pleural dissemination in 27 patients. Analyze the imaging characteristics respectively from pleural thickening and pleural nodules. RESULTS: The dry pleural dissemination of lung cancer were detected in 85% by CT. The rate of CT detection of dissemination on the visceral pleura and the interlobar pleura were 63% and 91%, respectively. 26 cases were with multiple pleural nodules, all were located on the same side with the primary lesions; 8 cases were with peritoneum visceralis nodules that are mostly circular with diameters of 3 mm-15 mm. The lung-nodules interfaces were clear. 23 cases had interlobar pleura nodules (all with more than 6 nodules), some are big (diameter >5 mm) while some are small (diameter <5 mm). The nodules are arranged along the interlobar pleura as beaded string or in clusters around the interlobar pleura. 15 cases were with pleural thickening, including band-like, uneven, or both exist at the same time. There are more mixed type in this group (63%). CONCLUSIONS: MSCT has great diagnostic value for peripheral lung cancer with dry pleural dissemination, especially with high accuracy of pleural nodules.
Female, 60-year-old computed tomography (CT) images show dry pleural dissemination (DPD) (the small interlobar pleura nodules) in 60-year-old woman with lung adenocacinoma. A, B: Lung window of CT image (5-mm, 2-mm section thickness) shows multiple small interlobar pleura nodules within right minor and major fissures which arranged along the interlobar pleura as beaded string or in clusters around the interlobar pleura. C, D: The primary tumor in the right lower lobe is visualized, and located adjacent to the right major fissure. CT images (5-mm, 2-mm section thickness) show multiple small interlobar pleura nodules which arranged along the right minor fissure as beaded string.
患者女,60岁,右肺下叶腺癌伴干性胸膜转移(叶间胸膜小结节型)。A、B:右侧叶间胸膜多发小结节,结节部分沿右肺水平裂呈簇状分布,部分沿右肺斜裂排列呈串珠状排列(层厚分别为5 mm和2 mm)。C、D(同一患者MPR):原发灶位于右肺下叶,并与右肺斜裂关系相贴;右侧叶间胸膜小结节,沿右肺水平裂呈串珠状排列(层厚分别为5 mm和2 mm)。Female, 60-year-old computed tomography (CT) images show dry pleural dissemination (DPD) (the small interlobar pleura nodules) in 60-year-old woman with lung adenocacinoma. A, B: Lung window of CT image (5-mm, 2-mm section thickness) shows multiple small interlobar pleura nodules within right minor and major fissures which arranged along the interlobar pleura as beaded string or in clusters around the interlobar pleura. C, D: The primary tumor in the right lower lobe is visualized, and located adjacent to the right major fissure. CT images (5-mm, 2-mm section thickness) show multiple small interlobar pleura nodules which arranged along the right minor fissure as beaded string.27例中,出现胸膜增厚者15例(56%),其中带状增厚者5例(叶间胸膜4例,非叶间胸膜1例),不均匀增厚者11例(叶间胸膜2例,非叶间胸膜9例),部分病例两者同时出现。胸膜增厚常伴胸膜结节,单纯表现为胸膜增厚者仅1例。27例胸膜转移者中:①大结节型2例(图 2),占8%(肋胸膜结节1例,叶间胸膜结节1例);②小结节型7例,占25%(全部为叶间胸膜结节);③条带型1例,占4%(肋胸膜不均匀增厚);④混合型17例,占63%(①+③:2例,结节全部表现为非叶间胸膜结节;②+③:6例,膈胸膜结节1例,叶间胸膜结节5例;①+②:3例,结节全部表现为叶间胸膜结节;①+②+③:6例)。
Type of large nodule. A: CT images show a quasi-circular nodule within the right costal pleura in 59-year-old man with lung poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma confirmed by CT guided biopsy pathology, diameters about 25-mm and the lung-nodules interfaces were clear; B: CT images show a circular solitary nodule within the right major fissure in 66-year-old woman with lung adenocarcinoma, diameters about 9-mm.
大结节型。A:患者男,59岁,CT引导下穿刺病理示低分化腺癌。左侧肋胸膜结节,长径约25 mm的类圆形大结节,肺-结节界面清晰;B:患者女,66岁,右肺腺癌;右侧叶间胸膜结节,长径约9 mm的圆形孤立性大结节。Type of large nodule. A: CT images show a quasi-circular nodule within the right costal pleura in 59-year-old man with lung poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma confirmed by CT guided biopsy pathology, diameters about 25-mm and the lung-nodules interfaces were clear; B: CT images show a circular solitary nodule within the right major fissure in 66-year-old woman with lung adenocarcinoma, diameters about 9-mm.
Femal, 43-year-old, follow-up CT images show DPD with eventual pleural effusion in 43-year-old woman with lung adenocarcinoma. A: The primary tumor located in the right upper lobe, with multiple nodal metastases within the ipsilateral major fissure; B: Mediastinal window of CT image (5-mm section thickness) shows no pleural effusion; C: CT image obtained at a similar level and 6 months after A shows a small amount of right pleural effusion, and check lung adenocarcinoma cell by hydrothorax exfoliative cytologic examination.
患者女,43岁,肺腺癌伴干性胸膜转移进展为湿性胸膜转移。A:原发灶位于右肺上叶,伴同侧斜裂多发结节状转移;B:胸膜腔内未见积液;C:6个月后,右侧胸腔内示弧形液性密度影,胸水中查到腺癌细胞。Femal, 43-year-old, follow-up CT images show DPD with eventual pleural effusion in 43-year-old woman with lung adenocarcinoma. A: The primary tumor located in the right upper lobe, with multiple nodal metastases within the ipsilateral major fissure; B: Mediastinal window of CT image (5-mm section thickness) shows no pleural effusion; C: CT image obtained at a similar level and 6 months after A shows a small amount of right pleural effusion, and check lung adenocarcinoma cell by hydrothorax exfoliative cytologic examination.
The primary tumor located in the right lower lobe, and were confirmed to be moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma pathologically by surgical. The micrometastasis within the right minor fissure were confirmed pathologically. A: Lung window of CT image (5-mm section thickness) shows no nodules; B: CT images (1.5-mm section thickness) obtained at the same levels shows multiple small right minor fissural nodules.
原发灶位于右肺,手术病理证实原发灶为中分化腺癌。A、B:手术病理证实右肺水平裂微小叶间胸膜转移,同一层面,层厚分别为5 mm、1.5 mm。5 mm层厚未见胸膜结节,1.5 mm层厚清晰显示胸膜结节(箭头)。The primary tumor located in the right lower lobe, and were confirmed to be moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma pathologically by surgical. The micrometastasis within the right minor fissure were confirmed pathologically. A: Lung window of CT image (5-mm section thickness) shows no nodules; B: CT images (1.5-mm section thickness) obtained at the same levels shows multiple small right minor fissural nodules.本组干性胸膜转移者以混合型多见(17/27, 63%),胸膜结节与胸膜增厚常伴发,仅表现为胸膜增厚者更为少见。大结节型多表现为胸壁胸膜结节,可能与小的胸壁胸膜结节不易观察有关。而小结节型多表现为叶间胸膜结节,尤其是肺窗中更易观察到,这可能与其较高的对比度有关。条带型少见(1/27, 4%)。通过随访部分病例,我们发现有部分结节可进行性增大,而且有1例患者部分结节相互融合逐步转为条带型,有2例干性胸膜转移的患者在病情发展中出现恶性胸腔积液。Kim等[也指出这一点,并且研究显示胸膜转移患者从干性胸膜转移到出现胸腔积液的时间间隔从1个月-59个月不等(中位间隔时间19个月)。因此,我们推测结节型的胸膜转移可能是条带型转移的早期阶段。而干性胸膜转移可能是胸膜转移演变转化过程中的早期阶段[,而这需要更多病例和更长时间的随访进一步证实。文献[报道,非小细胞肺癌患者有胸膜转移或伴有对侧肺恶性肺结节的5年生存期分别为2%和3%;中位生存期分别为8个月和10个月,而干性胸膜转移的中位生存期明显长于湿性胸膜转移,分别为38个月和13个月。因此,在患者初诊时检出干性胸膜转移就尤为重要,有助于临床医生采取较为积极的治疗手段和选择合适的治疗方案。资料[显示,高达50%的干性胸膜转移患者实施了无效的手术治疗。MSCT具有较高的空间分辨率,尤其是薄层重建及多平重组图像,对干性胸膜转移的诊断有较高的准确性。而干性胸膜转移的检出可避免不必要的手术治疗。因此当非小细胞肺癌患者的CT影像学表现发现胸膜结节(尤其是多发叶间胸膜结节)或(和)胸膜增厚时,影像医生要警惕干性胸膜转移的可能,以免造成漏诊。