Frequency and significance of pulmonary nodules on thin-section CT in patients with extrapulmonary malignant neoplasms.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and significance of pulmonary nodules detected on thin-section CT in patients with extrapulmonary malignant neoplasms.


METHODS
The institutional review board approved this study. This study retrospectively evaluated 308 patients with extrapulmonary carcinomas or sarcomas and had undergone thin-section chest CT (2mm slice thickness) for staging. Three radiologists identified non-calcified nodules and evaluated the size, the growth and the distance from the nearest pleural surface. The characteristics of the nodules were defined based on the results of either a diagnostic biopsy or nodule growth.


RESULTS
One or more non-calcified pulmonary nodules were detected in 75% of the patients (233/308). One hundred and thirty-seven of these patients had nodules that met the criteria of either benign or malignant nodules. Nodules smaller than 10mm were more likely to be benign, whereas those 10mm or greater were more likely to be malignant (22/26, 85%; P<.0001). Most nodules less than 10mm from the pleura were benign (91%), whereas approximately half of the nodules 10mm or more away from the pleura were malignant (20/43, 47%; P<.0001). Patients with melanoma, sarcoma, or testicular carcinoma were more likely to have malignant nodules. A multivariable analysis demonstrated the nodule size (P<.0001) and distance from the pleura were predictive of malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
The nodule detection rate on thin-section CT in patients with extrapulmonary malignancy is high. Most of the nodules smaller than 10mm or less than 10mm from the pleura are benign.
Hanamiya
Mai
M
Department of Radiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Iseigaoka 1-1, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. hanamai@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Aoki
Takatoshi
T
Yamashita
Yoshiko
Y
Kawanami
Satoshi
S
Korogi
Yukunori
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*