Cysts, cavities, and honeycombing in multisystem disorders: differential diagnosis and findings on thin-section CT

Abstract

Pulmonary cysts, cavities, and honeycombing are seen in a number of systemic disorders. The purpose of this review is to discuss the findings on thin-section computed tomography (CT) in both congenital and acquired multisystem conditions that give rise to multiple cystic spaces in the lungs. Conditions discussed include lymphangioleiomyomatosis, Langerhan's cell histiocytosis, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, and Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, with reference to specific features that may be helpful in the differentiation of these conditions on CT.