We studied 23 patients, who underwent resection for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma between 1975 and 1992. The predictive value of the radiologic features, TNM staging, histopathologic type and extent of resection were examined. There were 20 men and 3 women (13%) with a mean age of 58 years (32-72y). Of all patients, 18 (78.3%) were asymptomatic. At chest X-ray, 14 (61%) revealed a solitary nodule, 6 an infiltrative or pneumonic mass, one a cystic lesion, and two multinodular lesions. The actuarial five-year survival was 46 +/- 23%. When a lobectomy was performed for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, survival was better than when a pneumonectomy was performed. None of the seven patients who underwent a pneumonectomy survived 5 years. The actuarial 5-year survival of the 16 lobectomies was 70 +/- 25%. There was no statistical difference in survival between the histopathologic types.