Lung cancer screening in Brazil: recommendations from the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery, Brazilian Thoracic Association, and Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging

Although lung cancer (LC) is one of the most common and lethal tumors, only 15% of patients are diagnosed at an early stage. Smoking is still responsible for more than 85% of cases. Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT (LDCT) reduces LC-related mortality by 20%, and that reduction reaches 38% when LCS by LDCT is combined with smoking cessation. In the last decade, a number of countries have adopted population-based LCS as a public health recommendation. Albeit still incipient, discussion on this topic in Brazil is becoming increasingly broad and necessary. With the aim of increasing knowledge and stimulating debate on LCS, the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery, the Brazilian Thoracic Association, and the Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging convened a panel of experts to prepare recommendations for LCS in Brazil. The recommendations presented here were based on a narrative review of the literature, with an emphasis on large population-based studies, systematic reviews, and the recommendations of international guidelines, and were developed after extensive discussion by the panel of experts. The following topics were reviewed: reasons for screening; general considerations about smoking; epidemiology of LC; eligibility criteria; incidental findings; granulomatous lesions; probabilistic models; minimum requirements for LDCT; volumetric acquisition; risks of screening; minimum structure and role of the multidisciplinary team; practice according to the Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System; costs versus benefits of screening; and future perspectives for LCS.

The diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging compared to computed tomography in the evaluation of fat-containing thoracic lesions

Intrathoracic fat-containing lesions may arise in the mediastinum, lungs, pleura, or chest wall. While CT can be helpful in the detection and diagnosis of these lesions, it can only do so if the lesions contain macroscopic fat. Furthermore, because CT cannot demonstrate microscopic or intravoxel fat, it can fail to identify and diagnose microscopic fat-containing lesions. MRI, employing spectral and chemical shift fat suppression techniques, can identify both macroscopic and microscopic fat, with resultant enhanced capability to diagnose these intrathoracic lesions non-invasively and without ionizing radiation. This paper aims to review the CT and MRI findings of fat-containing lesions of the chest and describes the fat-suppression techniques utilized in their assessment.

Tomographic assessment of thoracic fungal diseases: a pattern and signs approach

Pulmonary fungal infections, which can be opportunistic or endemic, lead to considerable morbidity and mortality. Such infections have multiple clinical presentations and imaging patterns, overlapping with those of various other diseases, complicating the diagnostic approach. Given the immensity of Brazil, knowledge of the epidemiological context of pulmonary fungal infections in the various regions of the country is paramount when considering their differential diagnoses. In addition, defining the patient immunological status will facilitate the identification of opportunistic infections, such as those occurring in patients with AIDS or febrile neutropenia. Histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis usually affect immunocompetent patients, whereas aspergillosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, and pneumocystosis tend to affect those who are immunocompromised. Ground-glass opacities, nodules, consolidations, a miliary pattern, cavitary lesions, the halo sign/reversed halo sign, and bronchiectasis are typical imaging patterns in the lungs and will be described individually, as will less common lesions such as pleural effusion, mediastinal lesions, pleural effusion, and chest wall involvement. Interpreting such tomographic patterns/signs on computed tomography scans together with the patient immunological status and epidemiological context can facilitate the differential diagnosis by narrowing the options.

Pulmonary changes on HRCT scans in nonsmoking females with COPD due to wood smoke exposure

OBJECTIVE:

To identify and characterize alterations seen on HRCT scans in nonsmoking females with COPD due to wood smoke exposure.

METHODS:

We evaluated 42 nonsmoking females diagnosed with wood smoke-related COPD and 31 nonsmoking controls with no history of wood smoke exposure or pulmonary disease. The participants completed a questionnaire regarding demographic data, symptoms, and environmental exposure. All of the participants underwent spirometry and HRCT of the chest. The COPD and control groups were adjusted for age (23 patients each).

RESULTS:

Most of the patients in the study group were diagnosed with mild to moderate COPD (83.3%). The most common findings on HRCT scans in the COPD group were bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis, mosaic perfusion pattern, parenchymal bands, tree-in-bud pattern, and laminar atelectasis (p < 0.001 vs. the control group for all). The alterations were generally mild and not extensive. There was a positive association between bronchial wall thickening and hour-years of wood smoke exposure. Centrilobular emphysema was uncommon, and its occurrence did not differ between the groups (p = 0.232).

CONCLUSIONS:

Wood smoke exposure causes predominantly bronchial changes, which can be detected by HRCT, even in patients with mild COPD.

Aspects of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and of adenocarcinoma with a bronchioloalveolar component: CT findings

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma has various presentations and a wide spectrum of imaging patterns, as does adenocarcinoma with a bronchioloalveolar component. The objective of this essay was to describe and illustrate the CT findings that are most characteristic of these tumors. Three presentations are described: solitary pulmonary nodule, consolidation, and diffuse pattern. The last two should be included in the differential diagnosis, together with infectious diseases. Knowledge of the various presentations and the use of proper diagnostic procedures are crucial to early diagnosis and to improving survival.

Xantomatose cerebrotendínea: relato de dois casos

Xantomatose cerebrotendínea é rara condição de natureza genética, na qual se observa redução na atividade da enzima hepática 27-hidroxilase, envolvida no metabolismo e excreção do colesterol. Consequentemente, depósitos de material lipídico (colesterol/colestanol) acumulam-se em diferentes regiões do organismo, principalmente tendões, sistema nervoso central e cristalino. Relatamos dois casos da doença em duas irmãs, mostrando os principais achados de imagem.