Cardiothoracic Surgery: Other Lung Tumors

Other Lung Tumors

Isolated Lung Metastases

  • Second Most Common Site of Metastasis
  • Common Primary Sources:
    • Colorectal Cancer (Most Common)
    • Breast Cancer
    • Head & Neck Cancers
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Sarcoma
    • Bladder Cancer
  • Treatment: Resection (If Not Otherwise Contraindicated)

Pulmonary Hamartoma

  • Tumor of Fat, Cartilage & Connective Tissue
  • The Most Common Benign Tumor
  • CT Appearance: “Popcorn” Calcifications (Pathognomonic)
    • Only Seen in < 10% of Cases
  • Treatment: Nothing
    • Consider Repeat Imaging in 6-12 Months to Confirm Diagnosis

Pulmonary Mesothelioma

  • Tumor of the Mesothelium
  • Sites:
    • Pleura (Most Common)
    • Peritoneum
    • Pericardium
    • Tunica Vaginalis
  • Malignant with Poor Prognosis
  • Typically Related to Asbestos Exposure
    • *Primary Lung Cancer Still More Common than Mesothelioma After Asbestos Exposure
  • Presentation: Chest Pain, Dyspnea, Cough, Hoarseness or Dysphagia
  • Imaging Findings: Pleural Plaque, Diffuse Pleural Thickening or Pleural Effusion
  • Treatment:
    • Resectable: Extrapleural Pneumonectomy with Chemotherapy and/or Radiation Therapy
    • Unresectable: Chemotherapy

Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumor

Other Lung Tumors

  • Primary Pulmonary Sarcomas
  • Primary Pulmonary Leiomyosarcoma
  • Primary Pulmonary Angiosarcoma
  • Primary Pulmonary Lymphoma
  • Primary Pulmonary Melanoma

Pulmonary Hamartoma with Popcorn Calcifications 1

Malignant Mesothelioma on CT with Diffuse Irregular-Nodular Pleural Thickening 2

References

  1. Ceylan N, Bayraktaroglu S, Savaş R, Alper H. CT findings of high-attenuation pulmonary abnormalities. Insights Imaging. 2010 Sep;1(4):287-292. (License: CC BY-2.0)
  2. Bakhshayesh Karam M, Karimi S, Mosadegh L, Chaibakhsh S. Malignant Mesothelioma Versus Metastatic Carcinoma of the Pleura: A CT Challenge. Iran J Radiol. 2016 Jan 14;13(1):e10949. (License: CC BY-NC-4.0)