title: HRCT findings of small cell lung cancer measuring 30 mm or less located in the peripheral lung.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the high-resolution CT (HRCT) features of peripherally located small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the HRCT findings of 33 patients with peripherally located SCLC measuring 30 mm or less. The shape and marginal and internal characteristics of the nodules were evaluated. We also assessed the differences in these HRCT findings associated with the differences in the stages of disease. In 10 surgically treated cases, the HRCT-pathological correlations were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings of a well-defined margin (97.0 %), lobulation (78.8 %), thickening of the bronchovascular bundle (BVB) (57.6 %) and inhomogeneous enhancement (64.0 %) were common. A vermiform/branching and polygonal shape were observed in 33.3 and 21.2 % of cases, respectively. Air bronchograms (15.2 %) and marginal ground-glass opacity (GGO) (3.0 %) were less common findings. The vermiform/branching shape and thickening of the BVB were more frequently observed in non-stage I than in stage I tumors. The pathologic findings showed expansive tumor growth along the lymphatics and minimal necrosis between the tumor nests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A non-round shape and thickening of the BVB were common, while marginal GGO and air bronchogram were less common in small-sized, peripherally located SCLC. Furthermore, the vermiform/branching shape and thickening of the BVB suggested relatively advanced disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minamikogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan, taiga.k@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Taiga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoshii
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kunihiro
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masataro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed