Ch.12 - Recognizing Diseases of the Chest Flashcards
The middle mediastinum is home primarily to:
Lymphadenopathy from lymphoma and metastatic disease, such as from small cell carcinoma of the lung.
The posterior mediastinum is the location of:
Neurogenic tumors –> Either from the nerve sheath (mostly benign) or tissues other than the sheath (mostly malignant).
Incidental solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) less than … in size are rarely malignant.
4mm.
When clinical or imaging findings suggest malignancy, …% of SPNs in men >50 are malignant.
50%.
SNPs - Criteria on which an evaluation of benignity can be made include:
- Absolute size of the nodule upon discovery.
- Presence of calcification within it.
- The margin of the nodule.
- Change in the size of the nodule over time.
Bronchogenic carcinomas present in one of three ways:
- Visualizing the tumor itself.
- Recognizing the effects of bronchial obstruction such as pneumonitis and/or atelectasis.
- Recognizing the results of either their direct extension or metastatic spread to the chest or to distant organs.
Bronchogenic carcinoma most likely to obstruct + cavitate:
SCC.
Hematogenous spread –> Common sites of primaries:
- Colorectal.
- Breast.
- RCC.
- Head/neck.
- Bladder.
- Uterine.
- Cervical.
- Soft tissue sarcomas.
- Melanoma.
In lymphangitic spread of carcinoma, a tumor…:
Grows + Obstructs the lymphatics in the lung producing a pattern that is radiologically similar to pulmonary INTERSTITIAL edema.
–> Primaries that metastasize in this fashion –> Breast, lung, pancreatic.
Blebs, bullae, cysts, and cavities:
All air-containing lesions in the lung that differ in:
- Size.
- Location.
- Wall composition.
Anterior mediastinal masses - Thyroid goiter - What to look for:
The only anterior mediastinal mass that routinely deviates the trachea.
Anterior mediastinal masses - Lymphoma - What to look for:
Lobulated, polycyclic mass, frequently asymmetrical, that may occur in any compartment of the mediastinum.
Anterior mediastinal masses - Thymoma - What to look for:
Well-marginated mass that may be associated with myasthenia gravis.
Anterior mediastinal masses - Teratoma - What to look for:
Well-marginated mass that may contain fat and calcium on CT scans.
Sarcoidosis vs lymphoma - Lymphadenopathy:
Sarco –> Bilateral hilar + right paratracheal.
Lymphoma –> More often mediastinal + asymmetrical hilar enlargement.
Sarcoidosis vs Lymphoma - Nodes?
Sarco –> Bronchopulmonary nodes more PERIPHERAL.
Lymphoma –> Hilar nodes more CENTRAL.
Sarcoidosis vs Lymphoma - Pleural effusion?
Sarco –> About 5%.
Lymphoma –> About 30%.
Sarcoidosis vs Lymphoma - Anterior mediastinal adenopathy:
Sarco –> Uncommon.
Lymphoma –> Common.
Pancoast tumor:
- Soft tissue mass in the apex of the lung.
- MC SCC/Adeno.
- Frequently produces adjacent rib destruction.
- May invade branchial plexus.
- May cause Horner syndrome.
- On the RIGHT side, it may produce SVC obstruction.
Some common primary sites of metastatic lung nodules - Men:
- Colorectal.
- RCC.
- Head/neck.
- Testicular/bladder.
- Melanoma.
- Sarcoma.
Some common primary sites of metastatic lung nodules - Females:
- Breast.
- Colorectal.
- RCC.
- Cervical/endometrial.
- Melanoma.
- Sarcoma.
DDX 3 cavitating lesions - Thickness of the cavity wall:
Bronchogenic carcinoma –> Thick (means >5mm).
TB –> Thin.
Lung abscess –> Thick.
DDX 3 cavitating lung lesions - Inner margin of cavity:
Bronchogenic carcinoma –> Nodular.
TB –> Smooth.
Lung abscess –> Smooth.
Differentiating a mediastinal from a parenchymal lung mass on frontal and lateral CXR (4):
- Mediastinal masses originate in the mediastinum (makes sense, right?).
- If a mass is surrounded by lung tissue in BOTH the frontal + lateral projections –> Lies within the lung.
- GENERALLY –> The margin of a mediastinal mass is SHARPER than a mass originating in the lung.
- Mediastinal masses frequently displace, compress, or obstruct other mediastinal structures.
DDX for ANTERIOR mediastinal masses?
- Substernal thyroid masses.
- Lymphoma.
- Thymoma.
- Teratoma.
MC anterior mediastinal mass?
Substernal thyroid masses –> Multinodular goiter.
On occasion, the isthmus or LOWER pole of either lobe of the thyroid may …?
Enlarge but project DOWNWARD into the UPPER thorax rather than ANTERIORLY into the neck.
About ... out of 4 thyroid masses extend ANTERIOR to the trachea. The remaining (almost ALL right-sided) descend POSTERIOR to the trachea.
3/4.
Substernal goiters characteristically displace the trachea …?
Either to the left or right –> ABOVE THE LEVEL of the AORTIC ARCH.
–> A tendency the other anterior mediastinal masses do NOT typically demonstrate.
Classically, substernal goiters …?
Do NOT extend below the top of the aortic arch.
Study of choice in confirming the diagnosis of a substernal thyroid?
Radioisotope thyroid scan.
On CT, substernal thyroid masses are …?
Contiguous with the thyroid gland –> Frequently contain calcification + Avidly take up IV contrast but with a mottled, inhomogeneous appearance.
What is the MCC of mediastinal mass OVERALL?
Lymphadenopathy - Whether from lymphoma, carcinoma, sarcoidosis or TB.
ANTERIOR mediastinal lymphadenopathy is most common in …?
Hodgkin lymphoma - Especially the nodular sclerosing type.
Anterior mediastinal mass - Lymphadenopathy - What to look for?
Lobulated, polycyclic mass, frequently asymmetrical, that may occur in any compartment of the mediastinum.
Which mediastinal lymph nodes are considered to be enlarged?
Mediastinal lymph nodes that exceed 1cm measured along their SHORT AXIS on CT scans of the chest are considered to be ENLARGED.