Abstract
Intraabdominal metastases from lung cancer were reviewed in both autopsied and clinical materials. In the autopsiy study, intraabdominal metastases were found in 67 of 94 cases (71.3%), the majority being in the liver and adrenal gland (45.7 & 41.5%, respectively). In terms of histologic type, adenocarcinoma metastasized to the abdominal organs more frequently than squamous cell carcinoma. In adenocarcinoma, adrenal metastases were most frequent (67.7%). In ten of 67 cases (14.9%), metastases were recognized only in the adrenal gland. In the clinical study, abdominal CT scans were performed in 39 patients with proved lung cancer. Thirteen cases (33.3%) had CT evidence of intraabdominal metastases proved by autopsy or follow-up CT studies. Ten cases (25.6%) had evidence of adrenal metastases on the CT scan and eight (20.5%) had hepatic metastases. Adrenal metastases were most commonly detected in patients with adenocarcinoma (40%). Three of ten patients with adrenal metastases did not have any other intraabdominal metastases on CT examination. In only one patient, multiple small adrenal metastases with negative CT findings were observed. One patient with only adrenal metastases was considered to be free of distant metastases prior to CT scan. The detection of metastases in about one third of patients with lung cancer indicates that CT scan has great value as a diagnostic tool. Consequently, the liver and adrenal gland should be examined carefully on the CT scan, especially in cases of adenocarcinoma.
