Author reviewed clinical features and plain chest films of 49 patients witl,
histologically confirmed SCL,C, and comparatively analyzed the findings of computed _
tomography (CT) & plain films in 35 cases performed chest CT scan including upper
abdomen. _i , -
The results are as follows:
1. The 49 patients ranged in age from 42 to 78 years and the most prevalent ago
group was seventh decade (43%). The male to female sex ratio was 4.4 to 1. =I
2. About ninety percent of patients were smokers.
3. The ninety precent of patients had symptoms for less than 3 months, which were
mainly coughing, blood tinged sputum, chest pain and dyspnea.
4. On plain films, mediastinal widening or mass was noted in 25 patients (511170), hilar
mass in 24 cases (4970), and both mediastinal & hilar involvement in 17 cases
(35%). i
5. On CT scan of 35 patients, all except one had evidence of mediastinal lymph node
enlargement, and cross-over metastasis to contralateral mediastinum was observed
in 26 patients of these (77%).
6. In eleven patients (3170), the low density by tumor necrosis was noted on post-
enhanced CT scan.
7. On CT scan, the SVC invasion was suggested in 17 patients (4970), the encroach-
ment of pulmonary artery or thoracic aorta, in 23 patients (66070), and the ag-
gressive invasion to heart chamber, in 10 patients (29%). ! i
8. Twelve patients (34%) had CT evidence of intraabdominal metastasis. Six of these
involved adrenals, and five involved liver.
9. When staging 35 patients who had CT scan, 23 patients (66%) were extensive type, 12 (34%) were limited type.
10. CT scan demonstrated far more nodal involvement, which was as follows: 11 supraclavicular, 8 aortopulmonary, 2 paratracheal, 8 hilar, 11 subcarinal and 3 anterior mediastinal lymph nodes.
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