Subsolid Nodule Harbouring Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

With the widespread use of computed tomography (CT), subsolid nodules are more frequently encountered in daily practice. We present the case of a 74-year-old man with a large persistent well-defined subsolid nodule on CT. Although the lesion had a predominant ground-glass appearance on CT, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) showed moderate FDG uptake. Lobectomy was performed and histopathologic examination showed an extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Teaching Point: When large persistent subsolid nodule with a predominant ground-glass aspect shows moderate uptake on 18F-FDG-PET, other possible diagnoses than adenocarcinoma should be kept in mind, including primary pulmonary lymphoma

Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH): An Underrecognized Cause of Multiple Lung Nodules and Mosaic Perfusion Pattern

Teaching Point: Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is an underrecognized and misdiagnosed cause of multiple lung nodules in combination with mosaic attenuation

Marfan syndrome

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue, involving the cardiovascular, ocular, and skeletal systems, as well as the lungs, dura, and skin. Cardiovascular complications, including aortic root dilatation, aortic dissection and rupture, mitral valve prolapse, mitral and/or aortic valve regurgitation, begin in the first or second decade of life. They are responsible for a reduction in life expectancy. For clinical diagnosis of the disease, major emphasis is placed on skeletal malformations, aortic root aneurysm/dissection, and ectopia lentis. A prominent role is also assigned to molecular genetic testing of FBN1 mutation. Scoring of systemic features, including involvement of the musculoskeletal system, according to the revised Ghent nosology for MFS, may add in the diagnosis

Imaging of the spleen : what the clinician needs to know

The spleen is considered 'the forgotten organ' among radiologists and clinicians, although it is well visualised on abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, the spleen is commonly involved in a wide range of pathologic disorders. These include congenital anomalies, infectious and inflammatory diseases, vascular disorders, benign and malignant tumours, and systemic disorders. In this review, we focus on the key imaging findings of the normal spleen, its variants, as well as relevant congenital and acquired abnormalities. It is of utmost importance to recognise and correctly interpret the variable spectrum of abnormalities that may involve the spleen, in order to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures and to guide adequate treatment

Lung Cancer Screening: New Perspective and Challenges in Europe

Randomized-controlled trials have shown clear evidence that lung cancer screening with low-dose CT in a high-risk population of current or former smokers can significantly reduce lung-cancer-specific mortality by an inversion of stage distribution at diagnosis. This paper will review areas in which there is good or emerging evidence and areas which still require investment, research or represent implementation challenges. The implementation of population-based lung cancer screening in Europe is variable and fragmented. A number of European countries seem be on the verge of implementing lung cancer screening, mainly through the implementation of studies or trials. The cost and capacity of CT scanners and radiologists are considered to be the main hurdles for future implementation. Actions by the European Commission, related to its published Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the proposal to update recommendations on cancer screening, could be an incentive to help speed up its implementation

New Implications of Patients’ Sex in Today’s Lung Cancer Management

This paper describes where and how sex matters in today’s management of lung cancer. We consecutively describe the differences between males and females in lung cancer demographics; sex-based differences in the immune system (including the poorer outcomes in women who are treated with immunotherapy but no chemotherapy); the presence of oncogenic drivers and the response to targeted therapies according to sex; the greater benefit women derive from lung cancer screening and why they get screened less; and finally, the barriers to smoking cessation that women experience. We conclude that sex is an important but often overlooked factor in modern-day thoracic oncology practice