Report of a case of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma with natural growth for 10 years and review of the literature

Abstract

To better understand the clinical and imaging characteristics of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC). A case diagnosed with BAC with a natural history for 10 years was reported and the related literature was reviewed. We searched literatures in PubMed with "bronchioloalveolar carcinoma", "ground glass opacity", "high resolution computed tomography" as the search term, in WANFANG MED ONLINE with "bronchioloalveolar carcinoma", "ground glass opacity" as the search term by June 2010. The clinical and imaging characteristics of BAC were variable. A case of BAC in a 76 year old asymptomatic man was reported. He presented with a small 'flake like' density shadow in the left upper lobe which gradually increased in density over a 10 year follow-up. Subsequent upper lobectomy and mediastinal node dissection confirmed BAC. We received 35 literatures reported 664 cases of ground-glass performance BAC, including reviews of 4, retrospective analysis of 24, reported case of 7 in PubMed. We received a retrospective analysis reported 24 cases in WANFANG MED ONLINE. Patients presenting with ground glass opacities on chest CT with no specific clinical manifestations should alert the clinicians to the possibility of BAC. Regular follow-up with CT scans is needed and surgical resection should be considered if BAC is suspected.