Multidetector Computed Tomography Findings in Pulmonary Hamartomas

Abstract

The adoption of a new threshold for fat content (<-33 HU) can lead to further improvements in the overall ability to detect PHs by CT.

Pulmonary hamartoma mimicking a mediastinal cyst-like lesion in a heavy smoker

“…These benign lesions are very slow-growing tumors with a size less than 4 cm, although rapid growth [ 7 ] and giant mass have been reported in the literature [ 8 ]. The main CT features that allow a confident diagnosis of PH are intranodular fat and popcorn-like calcifications [ [2] , [3] , [4] ]. However, the literature reports that less than 50% of PHs show focal fat content [ 1 , 2 ], and only 20% of PHs present popcorn-like calcifications [ 3 ].…”

“…The main CT features that allow a confident diagnosis of PH are intranodular fat and popcorn-like calcifications [ [2] , [3] , [4] ]. However, the literature reports that less than 50% of PHs show focal fat content [ 1 , 2 ], and only 20% of PHs present popcorn-like calcifications [ 3 ]. Furthermore, the literature reports that PHs may occasionally show atypical CT features [ 5 ].…”

“…Pulmonary hamartomas (PHs) constitute 6–8% of solitary lung nodules and account for 75% of all benign lesions [ 1 , 2 ]. PHs occur mostly as peripheral solitary nodules and are incidentally detected on routine radiological examinations, such as radiography and computed tomography (CT) [ 2 , 3 ]. CT is the diagnostic tool of choice in the study of the internal characteristics of pulmonary nodules.…”

“…CT is the diagnostic tool of choice in the study of the internal characteristics of pulmonary nodules. The main CT features suggestive of PH are intranodular fat and popcorn-like calcifications [ 3 ].…”

“…However, the presence of these features within PHs is variable and their frequency increases with the tumor's size [ 4 ]. Thus, a reliable diagnosis of PH cannot be formulated in approximately 30% of cases [ 2 , 3 ]. Furthermore, PHs may occasionally show atypical CT features [ 5 ].…”