Imaging Findings of Focal and Multiple Cystic and Cavitary Lung Lesions
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Review Article Imaging Findings of Focal and Multiple Cystic and Cavitary Lung Lesions Kemal Ödev, Hüseyin Özbiner Konya University, Meram Medical Faculty, Abstract Department of Radiology, Konya, Turkey Cystic and cavitary lung lesions constitute a spectrum of pulmonary Eur J Gen Med 2012;9 (Suppl 1):3-14 diseases diagnosed in both children and adults. Cysts and cavities are Received: 02.12.2011 commonly encountered abnormalies on chest radiography and chest computed tomography. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) Accepted: 17.01.2012 of the chest frequently helps define morphologic features that may serve as important clues regarding the nature of cystic and cavitary lesions of the lung. Occasionally, the underlying nature of the lesions can be readily apparent as in bullae associated with emphysema. Cystic and cavitary lung lesions can be diagnostic challange. Although many patients with cystic and cavitary lung lesions have a known un- derlying disease, in many cases the considerable overlap in morpho- logic features of these lesions tenders transthoracic needle biopsy necessary to establish the correct diagnosis. Key words: Radiography, CT scan, cyst, lung, cavitary Fokal ve Multipl Kistik ve Kaviteli Akciğer Lezyonlarında Radyolojik Bulgular Özet: Kistik ve kaviteli akciğer lezyonları çocuklarda ve yetişkinlerde görülen akciğer hastalıklarının bir spektrumunu oluşturur. Kistler ve kaviteler akciğer radyografisinde ve bilgisayarlı toraks tomografisinde yaygın olarak görülen lezyonlardır. Yüksek çözünürlüklü bilgisayarlı tomografi (YÇBT) sıklıkla akciğerin kistik ve kaviteli lezyonları hakkında önemli ipuçları vererek morfolojik özelliklerini tanımlamaya yardım eder. Bazen, amfizem ile birlikte bül gibi, lezyonların altta yatan nedeni açıkça görülebilmektedir. Kistik ve kaviteli akciğer lezyonlarında tanısal zorluklar halen devam etmektedir. Kistik ve kaviteli akciğer lezyonları bulunan birçok olguda altta yatan bilinen bir sebep olmakla birlikte, birçoğunda bu lezyonların morfolojik özelliklerinde belirgin örtüşme olması nedeniyle doğru tanıyı koymak için transtorasik iğne Correspondence: Dr. Kemal Ödev Konya University, Meram Faculty of Medi- biyopisisi gerekmektedir. cine, Department of Radiology, Konya. Anahtar sözcükler: Radyografi, BT, kist, akciğer, kavite, Turkey E-mail: [email protected] European Journal of General Medicine Imaging findings of cystic lung lesions INTRODUCTION the lung) (1). Chest radiograph remains the first imaging technique in the evaluation of cystic and cavitary lung The cysts and cavities are seen as foci of decreased lung lesions. However, computed tomography (CT) and high density with definable walls (1). In contrast, emphysema- resolution CT (HRCT) can show the size, shape and pre- tous airspaces usually lack such perceptible walls (bullae cise location of cysts and cavities when these lesions are and blebs are expection). The presence or absence of a not apparent on chest radiography. The purpose of this wall around a radiolucent area can be accurately depict- review is to describe the characteristic radiologic findings ed by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), if it of focal and multiple lung cystic and cavitary lesions. is not apparent on chest radiography. The term cyst, cys- tic air space and cavity have overlapping meanings and Congenital abnormalities sometimes used interchangeably. The terms cyst and cav- Congenital lobar emphysema ity convey different meanings and ranges of diagnostic possibilities to clinicians (1). In the literature, the term Lobar emphysema can be either acquired, or secondary cyst is used to mean a clearly defined air-containing space or congenital. CLE refers to progressive overinflation of a surrounded by a relatively thin (≤4 mm) wall. In contrast, pulmonary lobe secondary to air trapping clinically, most the term cavity is used to refer to an air-containing le- infants with CLE present within the first 6 months of life, sions with a relatively thick (≥4 mm) wall or within an with symptoms and signs of respiratory distress. Bilateral area of a surrounding infiltrate or mass. Cystic lesions in or multifocal involvement is rare. With severe overdis- the lungs are rarely malignant. However, malignancy is tention of a lobe, contralateral lober compression results commonly the first diagnosis to consider for a cavitary and there is cardiomediastinal shift (Figure 1). CT scan lesion, particularly in a middle-aged or oder adult with a demonstrates which lobes or segments are involved. The history of cigarette smoking. Some cystic and cavitary le- affected lobe is overdistended and hypodense, with at- sions may be filled with fluid or solid contents. For exam- tenuated vascular markings (Figure 1) (1,2). ple, a bronchogenic cyst may be filled with fluid and -ap Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and Wilson-Mikity syn- pear as a mass lesion on chest radiography. The presence drome of an air-fluid level does not correlate well with benignity or malignancy (1). Solid contents within a cavity may be In the neonatal period, several disease entities, such seen in infectious processes (e.g. invasive aspergillosis), as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and Wilson-Mikity and in necrotic tumors. The location of focal lesions may syndrome are associated with respiratory distress. be of help in narrowing the differental diagnosis (e.g. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia results infantile respiratory propensity of tuberculosis to affect the upper lobes of distress syndrome and respiratory therapy with high oxy- a b Figure 1. Congenital lobar emphysema. CT scan shows Figure 2. Type I congenital cystic adenomatoid malfor- a largehyperlusent area in the left hemithorax. There mation a.chest radiograph shows thin walled cysts with is marked overinflation in the left hemitoraks and the multiple internal septa expand left lung and displace mediastinal structures are shifted to the right side and diaphragm and mediastinum b.CT scan shows replace- the lower lobe is compressed ment of the left lung by cystic lesions of varying sizes. 4 Eur J Gen Med 2012;9(Suppl 1):3-14 Ödev and Özbiner Figure 3. Bronchogenic cyst a.Chest radiograph shows Figure 4. İntralobar sequestration in a child with recur- a bronchogenic cyst in theleft lung with an air filled rent pneumonia in the lower lobe. a.CT scan shows a level b.CT scan (lungwindow) shows a unilocular air- large multicystic mass b. The arterial supply to the filled bronchogenic cyst on the left lung sequastered segment (arrow) arises from the descend- ing aorta as demonstrated on the surface rendered 3-D image gen concentrations. Multiple lung cysts reflect air trap- ity. CCAM is usually discovered in neonates, because of ping due to broncholitis or areas of destroyed lung sur- respiratory distress and may occasionally be discovered rounded by fibrous tissue. Lesions are typically bilateral. in older children or adults who have recurrent infec- Wilson-Mikity syndrome or pulmonary dysmaturity , has a tion (2-4). Stocker et al. (5) classified into three types radiologic appearance similar to that of bronchopulmo- based on clinical, gross and microscopic criteria. In type nary dysplasia, but is not associated with infantile respi- 1 CCAM, lesions consist of multipl large cysts (2-10 cm in ratory distress syndrome (3). diameter). Type 2 lesions have numerous smaller, more uniform-sized cysts (0.5-2 cm in diameter, rarely larger). Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the Type 3 lesions are bulky solid lesions that usually involve lung an entire lobe or lung (2,4,6). Typical radiographic find- Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the ing in patients with CCAM is a large air-filled multicys- lung (CCAM) is an uncommon developmental abnormal- tic lesion. However, variable radiographic features can Figure 7. Centrilobular Figure 8. Panlobular Figure 6. The CT scan emphysema. The HRCT emphysema. The HRCT The HRCT shows Figure 5. shows bronchial wall thick- shows multiple areas of shows the panacinar em- bilaterally mucoid impac- ening and bronchiectasis low attenuation with mini- physema lesion that is tion and cystic bronchiecta- involving all of the lobes. mal or no perceptible walls seen in both lower lobes. sis in both lower lobes. Mucus plugs are seen with consistent with centrilobu- in several of the dilated lar emphysema and finding bronchi (Cystic fibrosis) pulmoner fibrosis Eur J Gen Med 2012;9(Suppl 1):3-14 5 Imaging findings of cystic lung lesions Figure 9. Distal acinar em- Figure 10. Bullous emphy- Figure 11. The HRCT Figure 12. The honeycomb- physema. TheHRCT shows sema. The CT scan shows shows a large bullae on ing in idiopathic pulmonary distal acinar and central a large bullae in the left the right and presence of fibrosis. The HRCT shows acinar emphysema in both lung and absence of em- of distal acinar emphy- honeycomb cysts with a dis- lungs. physema in the lung. sema in both lungs. tinct predominance in the- peripheral and subpleural regions. make diagnosis difficult (Figure 2). CT demonstrates the optimal demonstration of cyst location, morphology and air-filled or fluid-filled cystic lesions with thin walls and contents (Figure 3) (7,8). air-fluid levelsin cysts or a combination of these findings Pulmonary sequestration (Figure 2). Classically, two forms of pulmonary sequestration (PS) Bronchogenic cysts have been described: intralober (ILPS) and extralober Bronchogenic cysts are found most frequently in the me- (ELPS). ILPS is a segment of pulmonary tissue that shares diastinum or lungs, but they can develop