Localized mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung: thin-section computed tomography and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography findings.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate thinsection computed tomography (CT) and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) findings of localized pulmonary mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (BACs).


METHODS
From February 2000 to February 2009, there were seven patients with pulmonary localized mucinous BACs that were pathologically confirmed in the surgical specimens. Their CT findings were assessed regarding location, extent (percent) of groundglass opacity (GGO), margin characteristics, and the presence of air-containing spaces and contractive changes. We evaluated the presence of the "angiogram sign" in the patients who underwent enhanced CT. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on FDG-PET was measured in four cases.


RESULTS
All tumors were located in the lower lobes. The percentages of GGOs ranged from 0% to 70% (average 20%). The tumor margins were well defined in five cases and ill-defined in two cases. Air-containing spaces were seen in all cases. Evidence of contractive change was seen in two of the seven cases. The angiogram sign was identified in one of five patients who underwent enhanced CT. The SUVmax on FDG-PET ranged from 0.93 to 1.97 (mean 1.53).


CONCLUSIONS
The imaging features of localized mucinous BACs include solid or partly solid attenuation, the presence of air-containing spaces, lack of contractive changes, and lower lobe predominance. Additionally, the SUVmax is markedly low on FDG-PET.
Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimogato, Chuo, 409-3898, Japan. e_sawaday_61674@yahoo.co.jp
Eiichi
E
Sawada
Atsushi
A
Nambu
Utaroh
U
Motosugi
Tsutomu
T
Araki
Satoshi
S
Kato
Yoko
Y
Sato
Akitoshi
A
Saito
Hiroshi
H
Ishihara
Hideto
H
Okuwaki
Katsura
K
Ozawa
Keiichi
K
Nishikawa
Masahisa
M
Miyazawa
Kazuyuki
K
Miyata
D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18