Benign Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions (Excluding Adenomas) of the Lung: Radiological and Clinicopathological Analysis of 48 Cases

Abstract

Forty-eight cases of surgically resected benign tumors and tumor-like lesions of the lung were analyzed, with the following results: 1) Hamartoma and sclerosing hemangioma have well defined borders, compressing bronchi and blood vessels, and are loosely bound to the surrounding lung parenchyma. 2) Hamartomas, in 90% of the cases, showed “nodularity” on film tomograms. Histologically, nodularity at the edge was produced by lobules of cartilage. 3) Fifty-three percent of the patients with sclerosing hemangioma were middle-aged females and asymptomatic. Only two patients complained of hemosputum. Routine roentgenograms showed a round shadow with homogeneous density. Cut surfaces were solid with various degrees of hasemorrhage. 4) Roentgenograms of benign mesothelioma showed large tumors more than 4 cm in diameter, in which extrapleural signs could be observed. 5) “Calcification” was seen on the roentgenograms of seven out of 27 hamartomas and one out of 15 sclerosing hemangiomas. Pleural retraction could not be seen in our series. Xerotomography was superior to film tomography in showing calcification. 6) One of the sclerosing hemangiomas was double, and the other 47 benign tumors and tumor-like lesions were solitary; the lesions were peripheral in 45 cases and central in three. All of the patients were free of local recurrence and distant metastasis.