ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To characterize the imaging features of bronchogenic cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The computed tomographic (CT) and/or magnetic resonance (MR) or ultrasonographic images in 68 histopathologically proved cases of bronchogenic cyst in 38 male and 30 female patients, aged newborn to 72 years (mean, 22 years), were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: There were 58 mediastinal and 10 extramediastinal cysts. At CT (n = 62), 60 cysts were sharply marginated with smooth (n = 35) or lobulated (n = 25) borders. Twenty-five cysts were of water attenuation, 25 were of soft-tissue attenuation, two were air filled, two had an air-fluid level, and two had dependent milk of calcium. On T1-weighted MR images (n = 23), 18 cysts were hyperintense and five were isointense to cerebrospinal fluid. On T2-weighted MR images (n = 18), 17 cysts were isointense or hyperintense to cerebrospinal fluid. Of the 25 soft-tissue-attenuation lesions at CT, 11 appeared cystic because of internal homogeneity, lack of internal enhancement, mural enhancement, and characteristic location. Fourteen appeared solid based on morphology and attenuation. MR imaging of nine of the latter showed marked hyperintensity on T2-weighted images. CONCLUSION: CT of bronchogenic cysts typically shows sharply marginated mediastinal masses of soft-tissue or water attenuation. Most appear cystic. A minority appear solid and can be confused with other lesions; MR imaging can be useful for elucidating the cystic nature of these lesions.
Subject(s)
Bronchogenic Cyst/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Bronchogenic Cyst/diagnostic imaging , Bronchogenic Cyst/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Ultrasonography, PrenatalABSTRACT
Carcinoids are neuroendocrine neoplasms. Bronchial carcinoids are unusual, malignant primary neoplasms that characteristically involve the central airways and typically exhibit well-defined margins and bronchial-related growth. Bronchial carcinoids include low-grade typical carcinoids and the more aggressive atypical carcinoids. These tumors usually affect patients in the 3rd through 7th decades of life who are often symptomatic with cough, hemoptysis, or obstructive pneumonia. Bronchial carcinoids radiologically manifest as hilar or perihilar masses, with or without associated atelectasis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, or mucoid impaction. At computed tomography, an anatomic relationship of these tumors to a bronchus is usually seen, and they may show contrast material enhancement or calcification. In rare cases, carcinoids occur in the thymus; when they do, they are aggressive tumors that affect adults who usually present with chest pain, cough, and dyspnea. Thymic carcinoids manifest radiologically as anterior mediastinal masses and may mimic thymomas. Thoracic carcinoids are treated by surgical excision. The prognosis for patients with typical bronchial carcinoids is excellent; patients with atypical bronchial or thymic carcinoids have a worse prognosis.
Subject(s)
Bronchial Neoplasms/diagnosis , Carcinoid Tumor/diagnosis , Diagnostic Imaging , Thymus Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Airway Obstruction/diagnosis , Bronchial Neoplasms/pathology , Bronchiectasis/diagnosis , Carcinoid Tumor/pathology , Chest Pain/diagnosis , Cough/diagnosis , Dyspnea/diagnosis , Female , Hemoptysis/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mucus , Pneumonia/diagnosis , Prognosis , Pulmonary Atelectasis/diagnosis , Thymus Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To define the radiologic features of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1966 and 1994, 61 cases of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor involved 36 male and 25 female patients (age range, 17 months to 61 years; mean, 28 years). Clinical presentation, pathologic features, and radiologic findings were noted. RESULTS: At radiography, 52 patients had solitary peripheral nodules or masses, and extraparenchymal involvement--including hilar, mediastinal, and airway invasion--was found in 11. At computed tomography, 12 lesions were of heterogeneous attenuation and five, homogeneous. At T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, five lesions had intermediate signal intensity; of two lesions studied with T2-weighted imaging, two had high signal intensity; and the one lesion studied with gadolinium-enhanced imaging had diffuse enhancement. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor was typically a solitary, peripheral, sharply circumscribed mass with an anatomic bias for the lower lobes. Local invasion and primary involvement of the mediastinum and hilar structures were unusual manifestations.