Cystic lung cancer is a specific type of lung cancer with a low clinical incidence. The most common type is adenocarcinoma, and the check valve mechanism is now recognized by most scholars. It has both the typical signs of common lung cancer and unique imaging features such as cystic cavity with wall nodules, intracapsular compartment and honeycomb sign. The specific imaging features are needed to differentiate the disease from cavitary tuberculosis, pulmonary cysts and thick-walled cavitary lung cancer. Despite the variety of cystic lung cancer staging, no studies have reported on the relationship between staging and prognosis, and there are fewer reports on the prognosis of cystic lung cancer and T-staging. Standardised tumour description and reporting will facilitate future research and management guidelines. That more research into cystic lung cancer is necessary and used to guide the treatment of this type of lung cancer. This article reviews the clinical, pathological and imaging features of cystic lung cancer