Bronchiolar Carcinoma: Report of 11 Cases and Review of the Literature

Eleven cases of bronchiolar carcinoma seen between 1970 and 1975 are reviewed. Roentgenographic manifestations at the time of initial examination included single peripheral nodules, multiple nodules, irregular cavities and a persistent infiltrative form. Microscopic tissue examinations showed two patterns of tumor growth: a papillary form resembling tall columnar cells extending along but not invading the alveolar septal walls and a cribriform pattern represented by inflammatory thickening of the alveolar septal walls and pleomorphic cellular proliferation within luminal spaces. The papillary form was associated with the cavitary lesions. Long term survival is dependent on early recognition of the single peripheral nodule, cavity or small persistent infiltrative form managed by a thoracotomy and lobectomy.