B-cell lymphoma of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT): CT featuresin 10 patients

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to describe the CT findings of pathol ogically confirmed bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma in 1 0 patients. Method: The CT examinations of 10 patients with pathologically proven BALT lymphoma were reviewed retrospectively by two radiologists. Evaluated findi ngs included number and distribution of lesions. We also assessed other CT findings such as presence of airspace consolidation, nodules, ground-glass attenuation, bubble-like radiolucencies, air bronchogram, bronchial dilatat ion, and lymphadenopathy. Results: Pulmonary lesions were revealed as airspace consolidation in six p atients (60%) and nodule(s) in six (60%). Multiplicity of disease was seen in seven patients (70%) and bilateral lung lesions in six (60%). Areas of g round-glass attenuation were seen in seven patients (70%). Bubble-like radi olucencies were present in five patients (50%) and air bronchogram in nine (90%). Findings of bronchial dilatation and lymphadenopathy were seen in th ree patients (30%); Conclusion: BALT lymphomas usually appear as airspace consolidation or nodu les with air bronchogram or adjacent ground-glass attenuation at CT. These findings are similar to previous descriptions of pseudolymphomas. Multiple bilateral lesions are common in BALT lymphoma. Bubble-like radiolucencies h ave not been described previously and can be an additional finding of BALT lymphoma.