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Interstitial lung disease: Difference between revisions
→Diagnosis and evaluation
(Created page with "<section begin="radiology" />'''Interstitial lung disease''' (ILD), also called '''diffuse parenchymal lung disease''', is a group of disorders characterised by fibrosis of the lungs. There are many different types. The name implies that these disorders only affect the interstitium of the lung and not the parenchyma (the airways and alveoli), but many of these disorders affect the parenchyma as well. It's more common in males, but ILD is rare overall. == Etiology == Th...") |
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Pulmonary function testing is obligatory. | Pulmonary function testing is obligatory. | ||
ILD has characteristic imaging findings. Radiography usually shows a reticular pattern, a nodular pattern, or a mix of the two. However, high-resolution CT is obligatory in the evaluation. Some types of ILD have characteristic CT findings, but most types show any of the following patterns: | ILD has characteristic imaging findings. Radiography usually shows a reticular pattern, a nodular pattern, or a mix of the two. However, high-resolution CT is obligatory in the evaluation. Some types of ILD have characteristic CT findings, but most types show any combination of the following patterns: | ||
* Ground glass opacities | * Ground glass opacities | ||
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* Reticular opacities | * Reticular opacities | ||
* Nodules | * Nodules | ||
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has a characteristic sign called ''honeycombing'', named after the honeycomb-like appearance the lung takes on due to formation of clustered cystic air spaces. | |||
Silicosis causes "eggshell calcification", which is well-defined sickle-shaped calcification of the rims of the hilar lymph nodes. Bilateral diffuse ground glass opacities and uniformly distributed small nodules are also typical. | |||
Bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy may be indicated if the type remains uncertain.<section end="radiology" /> | Bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy may be indicated if the type remains uncertain.<section end="radiology" /> | ||