Pancoast tumor MRI

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

Overveiw

MRI is helpful in the diagnosis of Pancoast tumor. MRI offers greater detail in the evaluation of chest wall invasion, examination of vascular structures and brachial plexus involvement and resectability of the tumor.

MRI

MRI is helpful in the diagnosis of Pancoast tumor.^[1]^[2]^[3]
MRI offers greater detail in the evaluation of chest wall invasion, examination of vascular structures and brachial plexus involvement and resectability of the tumor.
Findings on MRI suggestive of Pancoast tumor include:
- Opacity at the apex of the lung or in the superior sulcus area.
- Spread of the tumor can result in rib invasion that is observed as bone destruction of posterior ribs.
- Vertebral body infiltration
- Enlargement of the mediastinum
- Invasion of brachial plexus
- Invasion of chest wall and/or mediastinum
- Extension of the tumor into vena cava, trachea and esophagus.

References

↑ Foroulis CN, Zarogoulidis P, Darwiche K, Katsikogiannis N, Machairiotis N, Karapantzos I, Tsakiridis K, Huang H, Zarogoulidis K (September 2013). “Superior sulcus (Pancoast) tumors: current evidence on diagnosis and radical treatment”. J Thorac Dis. 5 Suppl 4: S342–58. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.04.08. PMC 3791502. PMID 24102007.
↑ Tamura M, Hoda MA, Klepetko W (October 2009). “Current treatment paradigms of superior sulcus tumours”. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 36 (4): 747–53. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2009.04.036. PMID 19699106.
↑ Paulson DL (December 1975). “Carcinomas in the superior pulmonary sulcus”. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 70 (6): 1095–104. PMID 1186286.

Overveiw