A DIFFICULT DIAGNOSIS - PNEUMONIA OR BRONCHIOLOALVEOLAR CARCINOMA MIMICKING PNEUMONIA?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differential CT features of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma mimicking pneumonia and pneumonia at the lung periphery. CT images of 36 patients with focal areas of parenchymal opacification at the lung periphery were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the presence of «groundglass attenuation», «CT-angiogram sign», «air-bronchogram sign», a bubblelike low-attenuation area within the lesion, presence of bronchial wall thickening proximal to the lesion, and air-trapping in the normal lung near the lesion, presence of pleural thickening and retraction associated with the lesion