Lung cancer versus pulmonary lymphoma characterized by pulmonary consolidation: CT imaging features analysis

Objective To compare the CT imaging features between pulmonary lymphoma and pneumonic-type lung cancer characterized by pulmonary consolidation. Methods CT findings mainly characterized by pulmonary consolidation in 32 cases with pulmonary lymphoma (from May 2008 to September 2016) and 32 cases with lung cancer (from October 2014 to September 2016) who diagnosed by CT/ultrasound guided percutaneous lung biopsy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) were included in this study. All clinical data and CT imaging findings were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results Patients in pulmonary lymphoma group were younger than those in lung cancer group (P< 0.05). Proportions of Bilateral lung consolidation, multiple pulmonary nodules and interstitial changes, mediastinal lymph node enlargement in pulmonary lymphoma group were higher than those in lung cancer group (P< 0.05, respectively). Conclusion Patient's age, lesion location, associated changes, mediastinal lymph nodes enlargement are indicative to differentiate pulmonary lymphoma from lung cancer characterized by pulmonary consolidation.