[BALTOMA--long-term follow-up].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to describe the findings and the long term follow up of pathologically confirmed bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (BALTOMA) in 6 patients.

METHODS

CT examinations and conventional radiological examinations were reviewed and compared to describe typical radiological findings and patterns of pulmonary manifestations. It were described the number of lesions and characteristics like presence of airspace consolidation, ground-glass attenuation, bubble-like radiolucencies, air bronchogram, bronchial dilatation, Infiltration and the long term behaviour of the manifestations.

RESULTS

Lesions with a positive air bronchogram, no infiltration of extrapulmonary tissue or extrapulmonary manifestations were revealed as typical findings. Only a slow or no progression of disease was shown in most patients over a term of up to twelve years.

CONCLUSIONS

The lymphoma of the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue of the lung is a rare tumor. A positive air bronchogram, a multiplicity of disease, bilateral lesions, a fibrotic transformation of the lung tissue and no growth or only a slow groth over al long term of observation are typical radiological findings.