1.Department of Radiology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian Liaoning 116001, China;
2.Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China;
3.Department of Radiology, the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China;
4.Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian Liaoning 116027, China
Abstract:Objective: To explore the CT findings of intrapulmonary lymph nodes(IPLNs) and compared with the benign and malignant pulmonary nodules inferior pleural, so as to improve the diagnosis and identification of IPLNs. Methods: A total of 38 patients with 49 IPLNs were enrolled in the study. 75 patients with 80 malignant pulmonary nodules were confirmed by operation and pathology. Twenty-eight patients with 33 benign pulmonary nodules were examined by operation or clinically. All cases were scanned by MSCT and 1 mm thin slice post-processing images were analyzed. Compared the CT findings among three groups of pulmonary nodules, and using SPSS 17.0 statistical software to analysis. P<0.05 for the difference was statistically significant(P<0.0167 for the difference was statistically significant between two groups). Results: There was significant difference in gender among the three groups(P<0.05), the incidence was significantly higher in the malignant group(66.7%); IPLNs were located below the tracheal cartilage level, 71.4% were located the lower lobe(P<0.05). The average diameter of IPLNs was (0.66±0.23)cm lower than that of benign and malignant nodules group(P<0.001), and the CT value was (32.9±66.1)HU higher than malignant nodules group ((-275.0±255.9)HU) and benign nodules group((-47.6±177.0)HU), the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001). The round shape of IPLNs were more common than benign and malignant nodules group(P<0.05), and the 98% of IPLNs were clear and smooth higher than benign and malignant nodules group(P<0.05); In IPLNs, lobulated sign, spicule sign, pleural depression syndrome, and vascular bundle sign were less than malignant nodules group(P<0.001) but the sign of narrow line(44.9%) was significantly higher than that of benign and malignant nodules group(P<0.001).