Objective To analyze the CT features of intrapulmonary bronchiogenic cyst in adults.

Methods Imaging data of 46 patients (25 males, 21 females, 23–74 (48.3±8.1) years old) with intrapulmonary bronchiogenic cyst confirmed by histopathological examination results in Tianjin Chest Hospital from February 2014 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent CT examination, 31 of whom underwent contrast-enhanced CT examination. According to the CT features, the location and number of intrapulmonary lesions, the changes in surrounding lung tissue, and the complications were analyzed.

Results Among the 46 patients, 42 cases were single and 4 cases were multiple (3 cases were located in different lobes of the ipsilateral lung, and 1 cases was located in both lungs). Among all patients, 16 cases with fluid-containing cysts, 10 cases with balloon-like cysts, and 20 cases had honeycomb and mass-like cysts. The main lung changes around the cysts were small cord (24 cases), excessive increase of pulmonary permeability (18 cases), and atelectasis and consolidation (25 cases). Postoperative histopathological examination results confirmed that there were 20 bronchogenic cyst lesions without complications, 12 lesions with aspergillus infection, 10 lesions with other infections, 6 lesions with tuberculosis, and 1 lesion with tumor (carcinoid).

Conclusions Fluid-containing and gas-containing cysts shown in CT images of the adults intrapulmonary bronchiogenic cyst had round or quasi-circular shapes, which were simple liquid or gas and had a certain value of differential diagnosis. When honeycomb and mass-like cysts form, they need to be distinguished from pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer.