CT differentiation of enlarged mediastinal lymph node due to anthracosis from metastatic lymphadenopathy: a comparative study proven by endobronchial US-guided transbronchial needle aspiration

• DOI: 10.5152/dir.2014.14112
• Publication Date: 2015-01-23T13:00:49Z
• Authors: Johannes Kirchner; Michael Broll; Phillip Muller; Natalia Pomjanski; Stepfan Biesterfeld; Dieter Liermann; Ralph Kickuth
• Keywords: Endobronchial ultrasound; Mediastinal lymphadenopathy

Anthracosis often results in mediastinal nodal enlargement. The aim of this comparative study was to evaluate if it is possible differentiate endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) proven anthracotic lymph nodes from malignant node enlargement by means multislice computed tomography (MSCT).We compared the MSCT findings 89 enlarged due anthracosis with 54 (non-small cell lung cancer 75.9%, small 18.5%, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5.6%). were assessed for density (calcification, fat, necrosis), shape (oval, round), contrast enhancement, contour (sharp, ill-defined).Malignant showed significantly greater axis diameters (P < 0.001). Both most oval (86.5% all vs. 81.5% nodes, P = 0.420) confluence a remarkable percentage (28.1% 42.6%, 0.075). Anthracotic calcifications more (18% 0%, Malignant short long diameter 0.001), they had higher frequency ill-defined contours (27.8% 2.2%, 0.001) enhancement 5.6%, Nodal necrosis, which appeared one third not observed (35.2% Confluence seen (42.6%), as well (28.1%, 0.075).Our show that there are significant differences benign anthracosis.