A number of conditions may mimic true lung cavities.
Patient selection: focal hyperlucency on imaging studies
Condition
|
Features
|
Walls
|
cyst
|
round parenchymal lucency
|
well-defined wall < 2 mm thick
|
emphysema
|
focal area of low attenuation
|
no visible wall
|
infected bulla
|
air-fluid level
|
|
cystic bronchiectasis
|
absence of bronchial tapering; increased bronchoarterial ratio
|
|