Unilateral hilar enlargement - Lung cancer

Hover on/off image to show/hide findings

Tap on/off image to show/hide findings

Unilateral hilar enlargement - Lung cancer

  • Learning to assess the hilar structures is difficult
  • Normal hilar structures are asymmetric in shape but are usually similar in size and density
  • Discrepancy in size or density of the left and right hila may indicate a pathological process
  • In this image the left hilum is too big and too dense (white) and the normal pulmonary vessels are difficult to delineate
  • Following bronchoscopy and tissue biopsy this mass was found to be a primary bronchogenic cancer

Page author: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust UK (Read bio)

Last reviewed: October 2019