Imaging Patterns of Lung Cancer Recurrence at Surveillance CT

Radiologists should recognize local, regional, and distant patterns of lung cancer recurrence on post-treatment chest CT. Disseminated forms include aerogenous, miliary, pleural, and lymphangitic metastases. Early detection of these patterns can improve patient care.

• Local recurrence post-lung resection may manifest as new nodules at the surgical site.
• Radiation therapy induces temporal and spatial CT changes that can mimic or obscure recurrence; knowing these patterns aids differentiation.
• Tumor recurrence risk is influenced by histology: lepidic growth carries low risk, while spread through airspaces portends poorer recurrence-free survival.

Automated summary

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