Analysis of CT features of small cell lung cancer

FAN Xin-hua; MENG Shuang; ZHA NG Hong-bin

Abstract：Objective To analyze the characteristics of CT signs and pathologic manifestations of small cell lung cancer . Methods CT enhanced performance of 34 cases with pathology‐confirmed small cell lung cancer was retrospectively ana‐lyzed ,focusing on the bronchus ,blood vessels ,lymphatic tissue ,and the pleura invasion .Results In these 34 cases ,29 cases with bronchus invasion mainly showed bronchial compression and narrow and , lately ,bronchial obstruction oc‐curred ;Vascular invasion was found in 24 cases ,which was characterized by vascular compression of the violation ,with frozen shape .When the mass and the enlarged hilar plus mediastinal lymph nodes were fused ,a "frozen mediastinum" was formed ;Lymphoid tissue invasion was found in all the 34 cases ,which was characterized by the linear shadow and line spacing radiating from the mass to the surrounding lung field ,granular shadow ,the mediastinum ,hilar and chest‐outside lymph node metastasis ;17 cases involved in pleural invasion ,in which 12 cases presented with pleural effusion (6 cases on both sides) ,and 5 cases with pleural thickening .Conclusion The analyses of characteristics of CT signs and pathologic manifestations of small cell lung cancer ,especially ,the manifestations of the bronchus ,blood vessels ,lymphatic tissue , and the pleura invasion ,are useful for the early diagnosis and staging of the small cell lung cancer .