Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Thorax, CT, Education, Cancer
Authors:
S. N. Purchuri, K. Steinke; Brisbane, QLD/AU
DOI:
10.26044/ranzcr2021/R-0136
Background
Early lung cancers associated with cystic airspaces have been reported since the early 1940s [1]. In the recent times, these cancers have been increasingly recognized due to more screening trials and serial imaging being performed. These cancers have been commonly misinterpreted as inflammation or infection, delaying the diagnosis and therefore its management. Majority of the lung cancers associated with cystic spaces have been predominantly of the non-small cell adenocarcinoma type. In a recent retrospective study by Fintelmann et al, majority of these lung cancers have been associated with acquired cystic airspaces such as emphysematous bullae rather than congenital cystic airspaces [1].
One of the greatest challenges for Radiologists is to delineate the benign mimickers from lung cancers in patients with similar risk profiles for malignancy like emphysema, interstitial fibrosis. Along with pattern recognition of certain pathology, knowledge of patient’s clinical background and previous imaging are paramount in forming a diagnosis.