Editorial Commentary


The added value of quantitative 18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters in the assessment of pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis in lung cancer

Dexter P. Mendoza, Subba R. Digumarthy

Abstract

Lymphangitic carcinomatosis is the infiltration and spread of malignant cells through the pulmonary lymphatics. In non-lung malignancies such as breast, gastric, and colon cancer, this typically occurs via hematogenous dissemination of tumor cells to the lung with subsequent extension to the lymphatics (1-3). In primary lung cancers, on the other hand, lymphangitic carcinomatosis may also result from direct invasion from the tumor, through direct spread from pleural metastasis, or via retrograde extension from a metastatic lymph node (4-6).

Download Citation