[CT findings of bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma with special reference to the lucencies within abnormal shadows]

Computed tomography (CT) was performed in the patients with bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma. CT shows not only nodular shadows and pneumonia-like shadows that have been reported on plain radiographs, but also the lucencies of various sizes within those abnormal shadows. These findings seem to be characteristic of bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma on CT. In addition, serial CT often demonstrates prominent changes of the lucencies, even when little change was observed in the outlines of the abnormal shadows. In regard to the progression of this disease, more attention should be paid to the lucencies as well as the outlines of abnormal shadows.