title: Air-space pattern in lung metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the GI tract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively reviewed a series of proven lung metastasis to evaluate the frequency and CT features of metastases showing an air-space (lepidic) pattern of growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT examinations of 65 patients with proven lung metastasis from GI carcinomas were reviewed by three observers. Four CT features were used to classify lesions as air-space metastases: (a) air-space nodules; (b) parenchymal consolidation containing air bronchogram and/or showing angiogram sign; (c) focal or extensive ground-glass opacities; and (d) nodules(s) with a "halo" sign.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six of 65 patients showed air-space metastases: three from pancreatic carcinoma, two from colonic carcinoma, and one from jejunal carcinoma. In one case, metastasis appeared as extensive parenchymal consolidation associated with ground-glass opacities; in one as an area of ground-glass opacity; in one as an extensive parenchymal consolidation with air bronchogram; in one as parenchymal consolidations with angiogram sign and multiple nodules, some of these with halo sign; in one as air-space nodules and patchy air-space consolidations; and in one as a solitary nodule with halo sign.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that air-space lung metastasis from GI carcinomas is uncommon but not rare. On CT as well as microscopically, differential diagnosis between air-space metastasis and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma may be impossible.
authors.affiliation: Service of Diagnostic Imaging, Piemonte Hospital, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Volta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scribano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallone
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pandolfo
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007580:Jejunal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed