[Differentiation of intra-pulmonary lymph nodes from intra-pulmonary metastasis]

In each case of primary or metastatic lung cancer, CT reveals multiple pulmonary nodules in addition to primary or metastatic lesions. All of these small pulmonary nodules were approximately 5 mm in size and were located in the subpleural region of a lower lobe of the lung. It was difficult to differentiate these small nodules from lung metastases. We were able to confirm that these nodules were subpleural intra-pulmonary lymph nodes by open thoracotomy. It should be noted that small pulmonary nodules in the subpleural region of a lower lobe of the lung might be intra-pulmonary lymph nodes.