LUNG-CANCER IN PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS - CT FINDINGS

Purpose: The frequency of lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulm onary fibrosis (IPF) is higher than that of general population. To eva luate CT findings of lung cancer associated with IPF, we analyzed 32 p atients with lung cancer associated with IPF. Method: We analyzed retr ospectively 32 patients with histologically confirmed lung cancer out of 244 consecutive cases diagnosed as IPF by either CT and clinical fi ndings (n = 220) or histologically (n = 24). The patients were 40-85 y ears old (mean 66 years, M/F = 31/1). Scanning techniques were convent ional CT in 24 patients, high resolution CT (HRCT) in 2 patients, and both conventional CT and HRCT in 6 patients. We analyzed the CT patter ns, locations, and histologic types of lung cancer. Results: The frequ ency of lung cancer in patients with IPF was 13.1% (32/244). In 17 of 32 patients, the CT findings of lung cancer were ill defined lesions m imicking air-space consolidation. Lung cancer was located mainly in th e lower lobes (21/32) and peripheral portion (21/32). Histologically, squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type (18/32). Conclusion: Typical CT findings of lung cancer were ill defined consolidation-like masses at the peripheral portion where the most advanced fibrosis was located.