Computed Tomography

•Contrast-enhanced helical CT of the thorax and abdomen that includes the liver and adrenal glands is the standard radiologic investigation for staging lung

cancers .•Detects mediastinal nodal metastases , chest wall

and mediastinal invasion.•Specific features in lung nodules may be diagnostic,

e.g. calcifications, fat, enhancement pattern.

http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/full/19/4/722/F7

Radiological characteristics by cell type

Adenocarcinoma

•Represents 35-40% of all lung cancers.

•usually occurs in a peripheral location within

the lung and measure <4 cm in diameter.

• Only 4% show cavitation •Hilar or hilar and

mediastinal involvement is seen in 51% of cases on

chest radiography

Bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma

•Is a subtype of adenocarcinoma .•Accounts for 5% of bronchogenic CA .•Increased incidence in patients with interstitial

lung disease, parenchymal scaring, and exogenous lipoid pneumonia.

•May manifest as a solitary nodule, multifocal disease, or a rapidly progressing pneumonia.

•Voluminous watery sputum is characteristic .

Squamous cell carcinoma•Accounts for 25-30% of

all lung cancers.•Strong association with

cigarette smoking .•Often centrally located

within the lung. •Cavitation is seen in up

to 82%.•Commonly causes lung

collapse due to their central location.