Cavitation is a condition that will happen to engines with replaceable cylinder liners. As the engine runs the liners vibrate at a different frequency than the block, which produces small water bubbles on the coolant side of the liner. The bubbles hammer at the liner until, they make tiny pin holes and the cylinder starts burning coolant. By replaceable I mean you use a tool with an impact wrench to pull them out. No machine shop needed.
Caviation is very avoidable with DCA additive. Conditions the coolant so that the problem never happens. Only on cars with wet type lines will it affect. Ford Powerstroke engines die from this all the time. CLass 8 tractor trailer engines also have this problem. I rebuilt many an engine when I worked at Cummins in Atlanta, that had this problem.
The Mercedes and Cummins 5.9 engine in the Dodge Rams do not have this problem.