[Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma: review of 14 cases]

Fourteen cases are revised of bronchiolalveolar carcinoma (BAC) diagnosed in our institution from 1980 to 1992. The time interval from clinical manifestations to diagnosis was 5.13 +/- 6.01 months. The incidence of smokers in the population was 42.8%. Clinical findings were non-specific, except in three cases, consisting in bronchorrhea with more than 100 ml. The most frequent site of the tumor was bilateral and diffuse (71%), mainly in nonsmokers. Endoscopic findings suggested a likely malignancy in 21% of cases. Transbronchial biopsy was the most sensitive diagnostic method. Histological confirmation was obtained in 85% of cases. To note the possible association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), as demonstrated by the findings of EBV genome in the cases when this study was performed.