Clinical and Imaging Features of Pulmonary Nodular Lymphoid Hyperplasia.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical and radiographic features of PNLH and the relationship with pathologic features.

Materials and methods: A total of 11 patients in whom PNLH was confirmed in our department were retrospectively studied. The clinical and radiographic features were extracted and analyzed, and we also discussed the relationship between radiologic and pathologic features.

Results: Of the 11 patients with PNLH, 5 were discovered incidentally, while 4 presented with chest symptoms. Laboratory tests showed no specificity and the lesions were located under the pleura with an adjacent pleural indentation. Most lesions were solid, with some showing signs of spiculation or spiculate protuberance. In some cases, hypodense areas and vocules were visible. The enhanced scan showed marked enhancement, but most had no lymph node enlargement, and there was no pleural effusion.

Conclusions: The clinical manifestations of PNLH are nonspecific and the imaging features overlap with those of malignant lung tumors, and the diagnosis depends on pathologic examination.