title: Computed tomographic findings of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.
abstract: The purpose of our study was to describe the computed tomography (CT) findings of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and to correlate radiological and pathological findings. We reviewed the CT findings of 36 patients [including the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of 29 patients] with resected LCNEC specimens. There were 33 men (92%), and 30 patients had a smoking history (83%). Only one case was of the central type. Mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy was seen in 12 (33%), but only one showed bulky lymphadenopathy. The HRCT findings of LCNEC consisted of irregular margins (66%), surrounding emphysema (41%), notching (38%), calcifications (21%), and pleural indentation (24%). Our study indicates that the CT image of LCNEC generally shows a peripherally located, expansively growing, irregularly margined pulmonary mass, with or without calcification, and without bulky lymphadenopathy. While the CT image of LCNEC resembles that of squamous cell carcinoma, cavitation is infrequent. LCNEC cannot be differentiated from poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or atypical carcinoid on the basis of CT findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. akata@tokyo-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akata
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Jinho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kakizaki
authors.forename: Kimihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Harubumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed