Radiolucencies and cavitation in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: CT-pathologic correlation

• Published in: European radiology Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 55 - 59
• Main Authors: Gaeta, M, Caruso, R, Blandino, A, Bartiromo, G, Scribano, E, Pandolfo, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01-01-1999
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar - diagnostic imaging; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar - pathology; Biopsy; Bronchi - pathology; Bronchography; Humans; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Pulmonary Alveoli - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Alveoli - pathology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0938-7994; 1432-1084
• DOI: 10.1007/s003300050627

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is a polymorphic lung cancer the incidence of which is rising. The presence of intratumoral radiolucencies is an important feature of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. The aim of this study was to present pictorially the spectrum of intratumoral radiolucencies visible in BAC. In 57 BACs studied with thin-slice CT, we identified six types of radiolucencies: (a) patent intratumoral bronchioles (air bronchiologram); (b) pseudocavitations; (c) cavitation; (d) serpentine radiolucencies; (e) internal alveologram; and (f) multiple cystic lesions.