Intrapulmonary coin lesions: the changing patterns

Of 71 intrapulmonary coin lesions seen at The Prince Charles Hospital during 1982-1984, 48 were primary pulmonary malignancies and six were metastases. There were two cases each of tuberculosis, cryptococcosis, hamartoma and granuloma. Overall, 76% of the lesions were malignant and only 3% were tuberculous. These findings contrast with those from the same institution published 20 years ago, when malignancy comprised only 38% and tuberculosis 27% of lesions. Malignancy now seems to be the major cause of coin lesions in Australia. In this survey, 82% of solitary pulmonary nodules that occurred in patients of over 50 years of age were malignant.