Lung cancer MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Dildar Hussain, MBBS [2]

Overview

The indication of MRI in lung cancer is when there is a suspicion of spinal cord canal invasion and/or in the presence of pancoast tumor (superior sulcus tumor) and brachial plexus tumors.

MRI

MRI in lung cancer is indicated when there is a suspicion of:^[1]^[2]
MRI can be used in the clinical practice for:^[3]
- The characterization of solitary pulmonary nodules
- Differentiating lung cancer from secondary changes
- Detection of mediastinal invasion
- Detection of chest wall invasion
- Assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes
- Diagnosis of distant metastasis
Brain MRI has greater sensitivity than the CT scan in the detection of metastasis.

References

↑ Webb, W R; Gatsonis, C; Zerhouni, E A; Heelan, R T; Glazer, G M; Francis, I R; McNeil, B J (1991). “CT and MR imaging in staging non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma: report of the Radiologic Diagnostic Oncology Group”. Radiology. 178 (3): 705–713. doi:10.1148/radiology.178.3.1847239. ISSN 0033-8419.
↑ Hochhegger, B; Marchiori, E; Sedlaczek, O; Irion, K; Heussel, C P; Ley, S; Ley-Zaporozhan, J; Soares Souza, A; Kauczor, H-U (2011). “MRI in lung cancer: a pictorial essay”. The British Journal of Radiology. 84 (1003): 661–668. doi:10.1259/bjr/24661484. ISSN 0007-1285.
↑ Hochhegger B, Marchiori E, Sedlaczek O, Irion K, Heussel CP, Ley S, Ley-Zaporozhan J, Soares Souza A, Kauczor HU (2011). “MRI in lung cancer: a pictorial essay”. Br J Radiol. 84 (1003): 661–8. doi:10.1259/bjr/24661484. PMC 3473490. PMID 21697415.

Overview