Radiologic findings of bronchogenic carcinoma with pulmonary metastases atpresentation

PURPOSE: To describe the radiologic findings in patients with primary bronc hogenic carcinoma and pulmonary metastases at presentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma who at presentation had pulmonary metastases, RESULTS: Fourteen (52%) men and 13 (48%) women with a mean age of 60 years were identified. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histology (70%). The nu mber of nodules varied, although 78% of patients had greater than 50 nodule s, Nodules size ranged from 2 to 30 mm, but 82% of patients had nodules les s than 10 mm in diameter, Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was seen in 41% of pa tients, and pleural disease in 44% of patients. Only 37% had radiologic evi dence of extrathoracic disease, with bone metastases (30%) being the most c ommon. CONCLUSION: Multiple pulmonary nodules may be the presenting thoracic manif estation of primary bronchogenic carcinoma, with patterns of metastases and survival rates similar to other stage IV patients, (C) 1999 The Royal Coll ege of Radiologists.