Radiologic findings of bronchogenic carcinoma with pulmonary metastases at presentation.

To describe the radiologic findings in patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma and pulmonary metastases at presentation.A retrospective review of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma who at presentation had pulmonary metastases.Fourteen (52%) men and 13 (48%) women with a mean age of 60 years were identified. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histology (70%). The number of nodules varied, although 78% of patients had greater than 50 nodules. Nodules size ranged from 2 to 30 mm, but 82% of patients had nodules less than 10 mm in diameter. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was seen in 41% of patients, and pleural disease in 44% of patients. Only 37% had radiologic evidence of extrathoracic disease, with bone metastases (30%) being the most common.Multiple pulmonary nodules may be the presenting thoracic manifestation of primary bronchogenic carcinoma, with patterns of metastases and survival rates similar to other stage IV patients.