• lung cancer
• nodule

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine CT appearance of 38 lung nodules that underwent CT-guided biopsies for cytological and/or histological evaluation. At biopsy all these lesions resulted lung adenocarcinoma. Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT examinations and CT-guided biopsies of all lesions were performed by using a 64-channel CT and a high definition 64-channels CT at Radiology Department of University of Pisa between June and December 2013. Using radiological criteria, the new 2011 adenocarcinoma classification was applied to characterize these 38 lesions in the adenocarcinoma spectrum. CT characteristics of the nodules (nodule presentation, size, location and number) were registered by using the PACS system. According to the new classification the results were: one preinvasive lesions (AIS), two minimally invasive lesions (MIA) and 35 invasive lesions. A better application of the new lung adenocarcinoma classification both by the pathologists and the radiologists will allow an improved definition of the lesions in the adenocarcinoma spectrum, from premalignant to frankly invasive lesions which necessitate different ways of management.


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