RadioGraphics 2007; 27:1801-1807 o Published online 10.1148/rg.276075013
Shao-Pow Lin, MD, PhD , Andrew J. Bierhals, MD, MPH James S. Lewis, Jr, MD
History: A 59-year-old man with a history of hypertension presented with flu-like symptoms to his primary care physician. The most significant of these symptoms was a dry cough that had persisted for 1 week. Results of the patient's physical examination, complete metabolic panel, complete blood count, and urinalysis were all normal; however, a chest radiograph depicted a pulmonary nodule. The patient subsequently underwent further imaging evaluation.
Imaging Findings: The initial two-view chest radiographic study demonstrated a nodule in the lin-gula approximately 3 cm in diameter (Fig 1). This finding was initially followed up with chest computed tomography (CT), and the results were suggestive of a primary bronchogenic carcinoma (images not available). The patient was subsequently referred to our institution for thoracic surgical consultation. Further work-up with both CT-guided percutaneous biopsy for tissue diagnosis and combined positron emission tomography/noncontrast CT (PET/CT) for staging was requested.