[Three cases of lung cancer with calcification--demonstration by chest CT]

We report three cases of lung cancer with calcification shown on chest CT scans. Case 1 was a 63-year-old man with well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Chest CT scan showed pronounced central calcification within the tumor. Case 2 was a 57-year-old woman with small cell carcinoma of the lung. Chest CT scan showed diffuse amorphous calcification within the tumor. Case 3 was a 70-year-old man with lung cancer for which pathologic data was not available. Chest CT scan showed punctate and linear calcification of the cavity wall within the tumor. Microscopic examinations revealed dystrophic calcification in cases 1 and 2. Calcification has long been recognized as a distinguishing radiologic feature of a benign pulmonary mass, however, the presence of calcification within a tumor on chest CT scan does not exclude the diagnosis of lung cancer.