Adrenal metastasis from small cell lung cancer

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Breathlessness in an ex-smoker

Patient Data

Age: 75 years
Gender: Male
Frontal
Lateral
Download
Info

Complete left upper lobe collapse.

Axial C+
arterial phase
Axial lung
window
Axial C+ portal
venous phase
Coronal C+ portal
venous phase
Download
Info

Endobronchial mass producing the lobar atelectasis and a large right adrenal mass. No other obvious metastatic lesions.

PET-CT

Nuclear medicine
Axial
Axial
This study is a stack
Coronal
Download
Info

PET-CT for staging of the probable lung malignancy. Marked FDG uptake associated with the left upper lobe bronchus producing the atelectasis as well as in the large right adrenal metastasis.

US prior to guided biopsy

ultrasound
Download
Info

Solid mass lesion in the right adrenal gland with a heterogeneous echotexture.

Case Discussion

The adrenal is a favored metastatic site for lung cancer. Small cell lung cancers typically exhibit large, dispersed metastases with relatively small primaries, including lymphadenopathy but also visceral metastases.

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.

:

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.