A<unk>  or pulmonary cavity is an abnormal, thick-walled, air-filled space within the lung. Cavities in the lung can be caused by infections, cancer, autoimmune conditions, trauma, congenital defects, or pulmonary embolism. The most common cause of a single<unk>  is lung cancer. Bacterial, mycobacterial, and fungal infections are common causes of<unk> es. Globally, tuberculosis is likely the most common infectious cause of<unk> es. Less commonly, parasitic infections can cause cavities. Viral infections almost never cause cavities. The terms cavity and cyst are frequently used interchangeably; however, a cavity is thick walled (at least 5 mm), while a cyst is thin walled (4 mm or less). The distinction is important because cystic lesions are unlikely to be cancer, while cavitary lesions are often caused by cancer. Diagnosis of a<unk>  is made with a chest X-ray or CT scan of the chest, which helps to exclude mimics like lung cysts, emphysema, bullae, and cystic bronchiectasis. Once an imaging diagnosis has been made, a person’s symptoms can be used to further narrow the differential diagnosis. For example, recent onset of fever and productive cough suggest an infection, while a chronic cough, fatigue, and unintentional weight loss suggest cancer or tuberculosis. Symptoms of a<unk>  due to infection can include fever, chills, and cough. Knowing how long someone has had symptoms for or how long a cavity has been present on imaging can also help to narrow down the diagnosis. If symptoms or imaging findings have been present for less than three months, the cause is most likely an acute infection; if they have been present for more than three months, the cause is most likely a chronic infection, cancer, or an autoimmune disease. The presence of<unk> es is associated with worse outcomes in lung cancer and tuberculosis; however, if a lung cancer develops cavitation after chemotherapy and radiofrequency ablation, that indicates a good response to treatment.
Lung cavity
Pleural cavity
Indium lung
Endobronchial valve
Heart
Pulmonary bay
Thoracic diaphragm
Oropharyngeal airway