A helpful mnemonic for causes of pulmonary nodules with air bronchograms is:
- OBALLS
Mnemonic
OBALLS
- O: organizing pneumonia
- B: bronchoalveolar carcinoma (adenocarcinoma)
- A: acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- L: lymphoma
- L: lipoid pneumonia
- S: sarcoidosis
Another consideration is Goodpasture syndrome; however, it is arguable that it appears as an air bronchogram within ground glass opacification rather than with a solid nodule.