[The small nodular pattern of primary and secondary lung neoplasia (author's transl)]

The radiographic pattern of multiple disseminated pulmonary nodules is especially difficult to interpret. There are some special forms of primary and secondary lung neoplasia which present as small nodular lesions of various distribution. Alveolar cell carcinoma and bronchogenic carcinoma with intracanalicular spread or small nodular or even miliary type lesions serve as well known examples. The radiographic morphology of small disseminated nodular foci of pulmonary metastases of primary lung tumors as well as of tumors outside the lung is being discussed. Even very subtle film analysis, observation of all radiological signs, as well as the clinical picture and the laboratory data, provides only limited help for the differential diagnosis.