Sixteen cases of pulmonary sclerosing haemangioma: CT findings are not definitive for preoperative diagnosis.

AIM: To describe and assess computed tomography (CT) imaging findings of pathologically confirmed pulmonary sclerosing haemangioma (PSH), a rare benign tumour, in 16 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the human investigation committees of the two participating institutions, and the requirement of informed consent was waived. Findings from CT examinations in 16 patients with pathologically confirmed PSH were retrospectively reviewed. Two radiologists in consensus assessed the location, size, contour, and border of nodules, as well as the enhancement patterns. RESULTS: The study comprised 16 patients (two male and 14 female) aged 30-70 years. PSHs appeared as well-defined, round or ovoid masses with a diameter of 2.2±0.3cm, and were generally demonstrated as juxtapleural masses (94%) on CT. Calcification (13%), the air crescent sign (13%), and a prominent pulmonary artery (25%) in the tumours were also demonstrated in the cohort. The mean tumour attenuation value at CT was 30±3HU before intravenous administration of contrast media, and was significantly lower than that of the enhanced phase (79±3HU, p<0.05). Twelve tumours (75%) enhanced homogeneously compared with four tumours (25%) which enhanced heterogeneously. The diameters of the heterogeneously enhanced tumours were larger than those of the homogeneously enhanced tumours (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The relatively characteristic CT findings include a markedly contrast-enhanced juxtapleural mass with homogeneous enhancement for the smaller tumours (<3cm in diameter) or heterogeneous enhancement for the larger tumours (>3cm). However, CT findings are not definitive for preoperative diagnosis of PSH.