Abstract
This study describes chest radiographic features of thoracic metastatic disease (TMD) in patients referred for colon cancer to a pediatric oncology hospital. The study group was comprised of 9 patients (7 males, 2 females, age 13–19 years) with serial chest radiographs demonstrating TMD from colon cancer. All patients had a chest radiograph performed within the 2 months prior to death. The median interval from diagnosis of colon cancer to appearance of radiographic TMD was 3 months. Four of nine patients had TMD at presentation, eight of nine patients within 2 years of diagnosis. All abnormalities progressed on serial radiographs. The median interval from appearance of radiographic abnormalities to death was 2 months. Radiographic findings included pleural effusions (n=6), lymphadenopathy (n=5), lymphangitic carcinomatosis (n=4), solitary pulmonary nodule (n=2), and lobar atelectasis (n=1). Five patients with pleural effusions initially had right-sided effusions. Radiographic TMD in adolescents with colon cancer usually occurs within 2 years of diagnosis. Once TMD manifests, the prognosis is dismal. Findings include pleural effusions, lymphadenopathy, lymphangitic carcinomatosis, solitary pulmonary nodules, and lobar atelectasis. We suggest that metastatic colon carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for lymphangitic spread of tumor in adolescents.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pratt CB, George SL, Green AA, Fields LA, Dodge R (1988) Carcinomas in children: clinical and demographic characteristics. Cancer 61: 1046
Rao BN, Pratt CB, Fleming ID, Dilawri RA, Green AA, Austin BA (1985) Colon carcinoma in children and adolescents: a review of thirty cases. Cancer 55: 1322
Powsner E, Grosoway G, Wolloch Y (1992) Rectosigmoid carcinoma in an adolescent girl. Harefuah 123: 169
Clagett OT, Woolner LB (1964) Surgical treatment of solitary metastatic pulmonary lesion. Med Clin North Am 48: 939
Fraser RG, Pare JAP, Pare PD, Fraser RS, Genereux GP (1989) Neoplastic diseases of the lung. In: Diagnosis of diseases of the chest, 3rd edn Saunders, Philadelphia, p 1625
Kuhn JP, Slovis TL, Silverman FN, Kuhns LR (1993) Pulmonary neoplasms and miscellaneous conditions. In: Silverman FN, Kuhn JP (eds) Caffey's pediatric X-ray diagnosis, 9th edn. Mosby, St Louis, p 620
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported in part by National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support (Core) grant P30CA21765, CA 23099, and by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bhargava, R., Winer-Muram, H.T., Kauffman, W.M. et al. Chest radiographic features of thoracic metastatic disease in adolescents with colon cancer. Pediatr Radiol 24, 491–493 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02015008
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02015008