Radiolucencies and cavitation in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: CT-pathologic correlation

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is a polymorphic lung cancer the inciden ce of which is rising. The presence of intratumoral radiolucencies is an im portant feature of bronchiololveolar carcinoma. The aim of this study was t o present pictorially the spectrum of intratumoral radiolucencies visible i n BAC. In 57 BACs studied with thin-slice CT, we identified six types of ra diolucencies: (a) patent intratumoral bronchioles (air bronchiologram); (b) pseudocavitations; (c) cavitation; (d) serpentine radiolucencies; (e) inte rnal alveologram; and (f) multiple cystic lesions.