Items tagged “infectiousdisease”

Respiratory bronchiolitis is asymptomatic and refers to a histological finding that is almost exclusive to heavy tobacco smokers. Pathology It consists of mild chronic inflammation and accumulation of pigmented macrophages within respiratory bronchioles and related alveoli 1,2. A small amount...

Desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP) is an interstitial pneumonia closely related to and thought to represent the end stage of respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD). It is associated with heavy smoking. Epidemiology DIP is considered one of the rarest of idiopathic ...

Amiodarone lung refers to the various manifestations of amiodarone toxicity in the lung including acute lung injury, fibrosis, nodules, hemorrhage and pleural disease. Epidemiology Amiodarone is a vasodilator which was found to be an effective anti-arrhythmic agent and is consequently in commo...

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), also referred as post-transplant lymphoproliferation disorder, represents a variety of conditions ranging from lymphoid hyperplasia to malignancy, included in the WHO classification of haematolymphoid tumors under "lymphoid proliferations and ...

Simple pulmonary eosinophilia (also known as Löffler syndrome) is a type of pulmonary eosinophilia that typically presents with transient radiographic infiltrates, minimal constitutional upset, and an elevated eosinophil count in peripheral blood. Pathology Etiology The cause is not usually i...

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) is a disease of unknown etiology characterized on imaging by multifocal ground glass opacifications and/or consolidation. A wide variety of infectious as well as noninfectious causes may result in a similar histologic pattern. Terminology Organizing pneum...

Pleural empyema refers to a collection of pus in the pleural cavity which may contain gas locules. Empyema is usually unilateral and most often occurs as a complication of pneumonia or perforated esophagus. The thickened pleura demonstrates contrast enhancement and the visceral and parietal comp...

Acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease is a leading thoracic complication - as well as leading cause of mortality - in those affected by sickle cell disease. The diagnosis is made on the combination of new pulmonary opacities on chest radiograph with at least one new clinical symptom or sig...

A pulmonary contusion refers to an interstitial and/or alveolar lung injury without any frank laceration. It usually occurs secondary to non-penetrating trauma.  Epidemiology While contusion can affect anyone, children are considered more susceptible due to greater pliability of the chest wall...

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a low-to-intermediate grade mesenchymal tumor that involves the lymphovascular system. The tumor can involve the pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cutaneous and musculoskeletal systems. Although it is often thought of as an AIDS-related condition, it may also be seen in other p...

Pores of Kohn are small communications between adjacent pulmonary alveoli and provide a collateral pathway for aeration. They are poorly formed in children and along with poorly formed canals of Lambert, are thought to be responsible for the frequency of round pneumonia in that age group. They ...

The canals of Lambert, also known as channels of Lambert, are microscopic collateral airways between the distal bronchiolar tree and adjacent alveoli. They are poorly formed in children, and along with poorly formed pores of Kohn, are thought to be responsible for the high frequency of round pne...

Lobar collapse refers to the collapse of an entire lobe of the lung. As such it is a subtype of atelectasis (collapse is not entirely synonymous with atelectasis, which is a more generic term for 'incomplete expansion').  Individual lobes of the lung may collapse due to obstruction of the supply...

Epiglottitis, also known as supraglottitis, is a life-threatening condition caused by inflammation of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds 1, which can lead to acute airway obstruction. Epidemiology The traditional age of presentation is in children of 3 to 6 years, although this has been ch...

Pulmonary infections are common and are caused by a wide range of organisms. Pathology Micro-organisms responsible may enter the lung by three potential routes: via the tracheobronchial tree most commonly due to inhalation of droplets of secretions from another infected human environmental ...

Pulmonary manifestations of scleroderma are demonstrated histologically in 90% of patients with scleroderma. It is a leading cause of mortality and at autopsy the lung is reportedly involved in close to 100% of cases. However, only 25% of patients will present with respiratory symptoms or demons...

There are numerous causes of calcified mediastinal lymph nodes. Common causes include: infectious granulomatous diseases tuberculosis histoplasmosis sarcoidosis silicosis treated lymphoma Uncommon causes include: Pneumocystis jiroveci (PCP) pneumonia ...

The chest curriculum is one of our curriculum articles and aims to be a collection of articles that represent the core chest knowledge. Definition Topics pertaining to the lungs, mediastinum, and pleura, but excluding the skeletal structures (see musculoskeletal curriculum), heart (see cardiac...

Right middle lobe consolidation refers to consolidation in part (incomplete) or all (complete) of the right middle lobe. Pathology Consolidation refers to the alveolar airspaces being filled with fluid (exudate/transudate/blood), cells (inflammatory), tissue, or other material. The list of ca...

Consolidation describes increased lung attenuation sufficient to obscure bronchial walls and blood vessels (on non-enhanced CT). Patent airways can be identified by the endoluminal gas as an air bronchogram. Consolidation can be caused by any process that evacuates alveolar air such as pneumonia...