title: Discriminative features of thin-slice computed tomography for peripheral intrapulmonary lymph nodes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of computed tomography (CT) scans has increased the opportunities to detect small nodular shadows in peripheral lung fields. Intrapulmonary lymph nodes (IPLNs) are sometimes identified among these nodular shadows, and a differential diagnosis is often difficult. However, few descriptions of the CT findings of IPLNs, with regard to their potential for the differential diagnosis of lung cancer, have been published.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2006 through 2011, 606 patients underwent thoracic surgery for pulmonary nodules. Nine patients (1.5%) had pathologically diagnosed IPLNs. We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological features and thin-section CT findings of the patients with IPLNs. We also compared these IPLN patients with 17 patients having small-sized lung cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In six cases, the nodules were round, and linear density extending from the IPLNs was visualized in seven nodules. The nodules in IPLNs were located in the lower lobe, and the nodule borders were clearer than those of lung cancers. Six out of nine nodules were round, and linear densities were more easily visualized for the IPLNs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical specialists need to be familiar with the discriminative features of thin-slice CT for IPLNs not only to avoid performing unnecessary operations, but also to prevent the mis-staging of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takenaka
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uramoto
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimokawa
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanagiri
authors.forename: Takatoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D004391:Dust