Diagnostic value of multi-slice CT in cystic lung cancer

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic value of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in cystic lung cancer. Methods: MSCT of 29 patients with cystic lung cancer confirmed by pathology was retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the location of the lesion and the cyst as well as the surrounding imaging features were analyzed. Results: The tumors appeared as ground glass opacities with cystic cavities (8/29, 27.6%), 5 of which were ground glass nodules within the ground glass opacities. Other appearances included solid nodules with cystic cavities (15/29, 51.7%), mixed ground glass opacities and solid nodules with cystic cavities (6/29, 20.7%). The cysts were peripheral (26/29, 89.7%) or central (3/29, 10.3%). Follow-up showed enlarging solid components with increasing density (6/11), enlarging cysts with mural thickening (8/11) and cystic change in initially solid nodules (6/11). Conclusion: Solid nodule with peripheral cystic cavity is a typical MSCT appearance of cystic lung cancer. Analyzing the imaging features of the main lesion and cyst with follow-up can aid imaging diagnosis. (authors)