Cavitating pulmonary metastases

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 27 Oct 2023

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

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

Cavitary pulmonary metastases can come from the following primaries:

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

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

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

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