Pulmonary cavity

What it means

A gas-filled space, seen as lucency or low-attenuation area, within a nodule, mass or area of parenchymal consolidations. It has a clearly defined wall over 4 mm thick.

A cavity has been defined in the radiology literature as (pathologically) a gas-filled space within a zone of pulmonary consolidation or within a mass or nodule, produced by the expulsion of a necrotic part of the lesion via the bronchial tree and (radiographically) a lucency within a zone of pulmonary consolidation, a mass, or a nodule; hence, a lucent area within the lung that may or may not contain a fluid level and that is surrounded by a wall, usually of varied thickness. A pulmonary cavity can be caused by microorganisms (bacteria including mycobacteria, funghi, viruses, parasites), malignant processes or autoimmune disorders.

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Pulmonary cavern · Pulmonary cavitation