Learning objectives
To describe the role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of lung cancer patients after surgery
To recognize normal postoperative imaging findings as well as early and late complications after thoracic surgery in lung cancer patients
To identify the imaging features of local recurrence
Background
Lung cancer treatment depends on different factors of which tumor stage is the most important.
In curative stages,
surgery often remains the treatment modality of choice.
The pattern of complications and lung cancer recurrence is related to different factors,
including the tumor stage,
histologic type and type of surgery.
The nature of these complications depends on the type of the surgery performed and the time elapsed since surgery [1].
Therefore,
differentiation between early and late postoperatieve complications can be made.
In the early postoperative period,...
Findings and procedure details
Cases presented were collected between January 2013 and July 2016.
Chest radiography has a low diagnostic value in the detection of postoperative complications [1].
Therefore,
Computed Tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice in evaluating the postoperative patient.
Normal postoperative findings,
both early and late,
will be illustrated.
Familiarity with normal postoperative findings is crucial for recognizing complications and disease recurrence.
Postoperative complications can be divided in early and late complications (Table 1),
including pulmonary edema, empyema,
cardiac herniation,
hemothorax,
chylothorax,
bronchopleural fistula,
eosphagopleural...
Conclusion
Thoracic surgery,
in particular pneumonectomy,
is associated with significant mortality and morbidity.
Imaging is of utmost imporance in follow-up of lung cancer patients after thoracic surgery.
Familiarity with both normal and abnormal postoperative imaging findings is crucial for detection of complications that require immediate treatment as well as for early detection of (local) disease recurrence.
Personal information
Ken Carpentier,
M.D.
(Radiology resident)
Affiliation(s): University of Antwerp: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Department of Radiology,
University Hospital Antwerp.
Adress: Wilrijkstraat 10,
2650 Antwerpen (Edegem),
Belgium.
Email address:
[email protected]
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