A Clinical Study for the Cavitary Lesion of the Lung

폐공동성 병변의 임상적 고찰

Pulmonary cavity is the result of necrosis of lung parenchyma with evacuation of the necrotic material via the tracheobronchial tree. A communication with the tracheobronchial tree permits air to enter the area of necrosis, so the radiologic result show the a lucent defect. The radiologic characteristics of the wall of a cavity are determined by the reaction of the lung parenchyma to the pathologic process. Therefore, the shadows of the chest films in cavitary lesion were variable in its nature. The author, in 42 cases which have a cavitary lesion in X-ray findings among 172 cases resected lung obtained in P.N.U.H. from 1979 to June, 1985, studied similarities and differences between the pathogenesis of these lesions and the radiologic findings. The author reviewed the 42 cavitary lesions and the following results were obtained. 1. The cavitary lesions were seen in 42 [24.4%] out of 172 cases of resected lung disease. 2. Histopathologically, pulmonary tuberculosis was 47.6% and primary lung cancer was 9.5%. 3. The most common site of the lesion was right upper lobe. 4. The most common size of the cavity was from 3 to 6 cm in diameter. 5. Lobectomy was the most common operated method.