Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: focal area of ground-glass attenuation at thin-section CT as an early sign.
OBJECTIVE
To assess an early thin-section computed tomographic (CT) finding of the localized formation of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC).


METHODS
From October 1994 to September 1995, four consecutive patients with biopsy-proved BAC were studied. Thin-section CT (n=4), radiographic (n=4), pathologic (n=4), and positron emission tomographic (n=2) findings were analyzed.


RESULTS
Chest radiographs showed focal areas of poorly defined nodules (n=2) and poorly defined opacity (n=2). At thin-section CT, lesions appeared as isolated areas of ground-glass attenuation (n=2) and mixed areas of ground-glass attenuation and consolidation (n=2). The areas of ground-glass attenuation were 1.8-11 cm in longest diameter. A focal, isolated area of ground-glass attenuation changed into mixed areas with consolidation at serial CT in one patient. Mucinous and nonmucinous BACs were observed in two patients each. Positron emission tomography showed false-negative results for malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Focal areas of ground-glass attenuation at CT could be an early sign of localized BAC.
Jang
H J
HJ
Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
K S
KS
Kwon
O J
OJ
Rhee
C H
CH
Shim
Y M
YM
Han
J
J
D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D003847:Deoxyglucose