The pleural tail sign.

W R Webb

doi:10.1148/127.2.309

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The pleural tail sign.

W R Webb

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Abstract

The pleural tail sign is widely thought to indicate malignancy. However, of 18 patients with the tail sign, 9 had benign disease. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma was the most common malignant tumor, but adenocarcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, and metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon were also found. The location of nodules and the radiographic characteristics of the pleural tails did not help differentiate benign from malignant lesions. However, nodules 2 cm or larger were malignant while those 1 cm or smaller were benign. Histologically, pleural tails reflected thickened, fibrotic connective tissue septae with indrawing of the visceral pleura. Their occurrence with neoplasm reflects desmoplastic reaction or scar carcinoma.

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Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar Adult Aged Carcinoma, Bronchogenic Diagnosis, Differential Female Granuloma Humans Lung Diseases Lung Neoplasms Male Middle Aged Pleura Prospective Studies Tomography, X-Ray Journal Article

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W R Webb. 1978. The pleural tail sign.. https://doi.org/10.1148/127.2.309

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