Differentiation of intra-pulmonary lymph nodes from intra-pulmonary metastasis

Abstract

In each case of primary or metastatic lung cancer, CT reveals multiple pulmonary nodules in addition to primary or metastatic lesions. All of these small pulmonary nodules were approximately 5 mm in size and were located in the subpleural region of a lower lobe of the lung. It was difficult to differentiate these small nodules from lung metastases. We were able to confirm that these nodules were subpleural intra-pulmonary lymph nodes by open thoracotomy. It should be noted that small pulmonary nodules in the subpleural region of a lower lobe of the lung might be intra-pulmonary lymph nodes.