Detection of skeletal muscle metastases on initial staging of lung cancer: a retrospective case series

作者：Bocchino Marialuisa^*; Valente Tullio; Somma Francesco; de Rosa Ilaria; Bifulco Marco; Rea Gaetano

来源：Japanese Journal of Radiology, 2014, 32(3): 164-171.

DOI：10.1007/s11604-014-0281-5

• Lung cancer
• Skeletal muscle metastases
• Multi-detector computed tomography
• Ultrasonography
• Positron emission tomography

Estimation of skeletal muscle metastases (SMMs) at the time of diagnosis and/or initial staging of lung cancer. %26lt;br%26gt;Retrospective evaluation of clinical charts and imaging data suggestive of SMMs of patients with histology-proved lung cancer over a 5-year period. %26lt;br%26gt;SMMs were identified in 46 out of 1,754 patients. Single and multiple (62.9 % of cases) SMMs were detected by total body multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). They were associated with poorly differentiated (43 %) and advanced adenocarcinomas (52 %) without clinically relevant symptoms and/or signs. Psoas and buttock muscles were most frequently involved (33.3 %). MDCT findings consisted of well-defined homogeneously hyperdense oval masses (31 %), lesions with ring-like enhancement and central hypoattenuation (68 %), or large abscess-like necrotic lesions (24 %). Sonography revealed well-defined hypoechoic masses (41.6 %), ill-defined hypoechoic lesions (33.3 %), or anechoic areas with a necrotic centre (25 %). Positron emission tomography revealed that all SMMs were metabolically active. %26lt;br%26gt;SMMs are uncommon but not negligible in lung cancer, with an estimated prevalence of 2.62 % in our series. Although histology remains the recommended method, use of high-performance imaging techniques and increased clinical suspicion may improve their early detection. Efforts addressing their effect on the natural history of lung cancer are needed.

• 出版日期2014-3