title: Computed tomography for the diagnosis of solitary thin-walled cavity lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite the high incidence of lung cancer, the diagnosis of solitary thin-walled cavity lung cancer is rare. The aim of this review is to explore the potentials of computed tomography (CT) as diagnostic tool for solitary thin-walled cavity lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature search was made in electronic databases including PudMed, Ovid SP, Embase, Web of Sciences, EBSCO and Wiley online by using relevant key terms. Because of the rarity of the subject, no precise exclusion or inclusion criteria were used for article selection and the outcome dissemination was decided to be more descriptive rather than quantitative.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The detection of cavitation in lungs is frequently done utilizing chest radiographs CT scans. However, the diagnostic challenge remains the accurate detection of solitary thin-walled cavity lung cancer among the prevalence of cavitary lung lesions in multiple thoracic disorders including benign disorders, infectious disease and malignant tumors. Moreover, an accurate diagnosis of solitary thin-walled cavity lung cancer is further complicated by its subjective classification within the literature. In order to facilitate early diagnosis of this disease and circumvent the need for more invasive tests that may not be warranted, the overarching goal is to establish definitive radiological features of lung cavities that are indicative of malignancy. Herein, we describe the benefits of using CT to identify and diagnose solitary thin-walled cavity lung cancer, as well as explore the underlying mechanisms that contribute to thin-walled cavity formation in oncology patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT is the best modality for the noninvasive differentiation between malignant and nonmalignant cavities as it provides reliable information regarding the morphology and density of lesions. Besides, CT densitometry can efficiently detect the calcifications in lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.|Department of Special Medical Treatment-Respiratory Disease, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Kai-Fei
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Yue
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: check-valve mechanism; computed tomography (CT); primary lung cancer; thin-walled cavity