Cavitating pulmonary metastases

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Cavitating pulmonary metastases refer to pulmonary metastases which then tend to cavitation. The term is similar but may not be identical to cystic pulmonary metastases in the wall of the former may be thicker.

Epidemiology

Cavitation is thought to occur in around 4% of lung metastases ².

Pathology

Cavitary pulmonary metastases are most commonly (70%) caused by squamous cell carcinoma, which may of the lung or head and neck ^1,4,6. Other primaries are varied and include:

gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas ⁶
transitional cell carcinoma of bladder ³
sarcomas ⁴
cervical cancer ⁷
pancreatic adenocarcinoma⁸: very rare

Cavitating pulmonary metastases have also been reported to develop after chemotherapy, thought to be secondary to tumour necrosis or a valve-effect on an adjacent bronchi ^4,5.

Complications

One particular complication that can occur includes formation of a pneumothorax or a haemopneumothorax.

Differential diagnosis

For multiple cavitating lung lesions (nodules or masses) on imaging consider

septic pulmonary emboli
granulomatosis with polyangitis (Wegener's granulomatosis)
necrobiotic lung nodules: rare
pulmonary tuberculosis: upper lobe predominant consolidative region with cavitation

-<p><strong>Cavitating pulmonary metastases</strong> refer to <a href="/articles/pulmonary-metastases">pulmonary metastases</a> which then tend to cavitation. The term is similar but may not be identical to <a href="/articles/cystic-pulmonary-metastases">cystic pulmonary metastases</a> in the wall of the former may be thicker.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Cavitation is thought to occur in around 4% of lung metastases <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Cavitary pulmonary metastases are most commonly (70%) caused by squamous cell carcinoma, which may of the <a href="/articles/squamous-cell-carcinoma-of-the-lung">lung</a> or <a href="/articles/squamous-cell-carcinoma-of-the-head-and-neck">head and neck</a> <sup>1,4,6</sup>. Other primaries are varied and include:</p><ul>
+<p><strong>Cavitating pulmonary metastases</strong> refer to <a href="/articles/pulmonary-metastases">pulmonary metastases</a> which then tend to cavitation. The term is similar but may not be identical to <a href="/articles/cystic-pulmonary-metastases">cystic pulmonary metastases</a> in the wall of the former may be thicker.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Cavitation is thought to occur in around 4% of lung metastases <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Cavitary pulmonary metastases are most commonly (70%) caused by squamous cell carcinoma, which may of the <a href="/articles/squamous-cell-carcinoma-of-the-lung">lung</a> or <a href="/articles/squamous-cell-carcinoma-head-and-neck">head and neck</a> <sup>1,4,6</sup>. Other primaries are varied and include:</p><ul>
~~-<a href="/articles/transitional-cell-carcinoma-of-the-bladder">transitional cell carcinoma of bladder</a> <sup>3</sup>~~
+<a href="/articles/transitional-cell-carcinoma-bladder">transitional cell carcinoma of bladder</a> <sup>3</sup>
~~-<a title="Cervical cancer" href="/articles/carcinoma-of-the-cervix">cervical cancer</a> <sup>7</sup>~~
+<a href="/articles/carcinoma-of-the-cervix">cervical cancer</a> <sup>7</sup>
+<li>
+<a title="pancreatic adenocarcinoma" href="/articles/pancreatic-adenocarcinoma">pancreatic adenocarcinoma</a> <sup>8</sup>: very rare </li>
~~-<a href="/articles/tuberculosis-pulmonary-manifestations">pulmonary tuberculosis</a>: upper lobe predominant consolidative region with cavitation</li>~~
+<a href="/articles/tuberculosis-pulmonary-manifestations-1">pulmonary tuberculosis</a>: upper lobe predominant consolidative region with cavitation</li>

References changed:

8. Virgilio E, Iannicelli E, Balducci G. RE: Atypical pulmonary metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Korean journal of radiology. 15 (3): 399-400. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2014.15.3.399">doi:10.3348/kjr.2014.15.3.399</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24843247">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>

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