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[Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung. A radiologic and pathologic study]
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
Objective:
To study if there are characteristic radiologic features of adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) of the lung and correlations of histo-pathologic components with radiologic findings and prognosis.
Methods:
Fifty one pathologicall confirmed ASC cases (52 foci) were reviewed. All had chest radiographs, CT scans were available in 23 cases and MRI in 6 cases. These cases were subdivided into three groups according to the amount of adenocarcinoma component on microscopic manifestations: less than 40%, 40%-60%, and more than 60%.
Results:
(1) Radiologic findings: In three cases, the tumor was of central type and in 48 cases (94.1%) of peripheral type. The size of tumor varied from 2 to 15 cm in diameter (mean, 5.7 cm). All the peripheral tumors were lobulated. In 19 cases (39.6%) the tumors were well demarcated, but poorly defined in 18 cases (19 foci) (37.5%) and spiculated in 14 cases (29.2%). Eccentric cavities with thickened wall were seen in 8 cases (15.7%) and pleural tag in 12 cases (25%). (2) Correlations between the amount of adenocarcinoma component and radiologic features: There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups with regard to tumor location, margin, and pleural tag.
Conclusion:
The radiologic findings of ASC are not specific; the most common finding is a peripheral mass. The amount of adenocarcinoma component is not significantly related with the radiologic features and prognosis.