[MRI features of brain metastases of lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE

To report the MRI features of intracranial metastases of lung cancer.

METHODS

A total of 858 patients with history of primary lung cancer suspicious of brain metastases was retrospectively reviewed with MRI.

RESULTS

1. Of the 858 patients, 393 (45.8%) had brain metastases on MRI. The primary tumor was lung adenocarcinoma in 117 (29.8%), small cell lung cancer in 110 (28.0%), squamous cell cancer in 52 (13.2%), adenosquamous cancer in 16 (4.1%), large cell carcinoma in 2 (0.5%) and carcinoid in 1 (0.3%). The histopathological types of the primary tumor were unknown in 95 (24.2%). 2. Meningeal metastasis was found in 19 patients with lung cancer. The primary tumor was of adenocarcinoma lung in 6, small cell lung cancer in 5, squamous cell carcinoma in 4 and the remaining 4 were of unknown histopathological type. 3. Edema around the lesion: in 120 cases, there was no obvious edema; the edema was slight in 98 cases, moderate in 70, serious in 86.

CONCLUSION

The brain metastasis of lung cancer is of common occurrence. MRI with enhancement is very helpful in the establishment of diagnosis.