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. 2020 Apr 28;12(4):29–47. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v12.i4.29

Table 4.

Clinical, laboratory and imaging findings, and prognosis/treatment of miscellaneous causes of chronic airspace disease

Causes of chronic airspace disease/ General category Clinical information Laboratory findings Imaging findings Prognosis and treatment
Lipoid pneumonia/ Miscellaneous Usually elderly individuals; History of chronic inflammation in primary (endogenous) form; History of chronic constipation and aspiration in the secondary (exogenous) form Chronic consolidative and GGOs; Nodules and masses; More in the dependent portions of the lungs; May or may not have fat attenuation Biopsy may be needed in lipid poor cases to exclude malignancy
Alveolar hemorrhage/ Miscellaneous May have history of vasculitides, connective tissue disorders, or coagulation disorders GGO or consolidation in the acute phase; GGO and interlobular septal thickening in subacute phase; May develop fibrosis if recurrent or chronic; Opacities may show subtle or major changes in appearance (migratory) Supportive treatment; Treatment of underlying disease
PAP/ Miscellaneous Due to abnormal intra-alveolar accumulation of surfactant-like material; More common in smokers Crazy-paving which is due to combination of GGO and smooth interlobular septal thickening; This finding is very suggestive but not pathognomonic; Usually bilateral and extensive, with more severe involvement of the lower lobes Whole-lung bronchoalveolar lavage to remove alveolar material; Variable prognosis, ranging from improvement with treatment to a chronic and terminal course.

GGO: Ground glass opacity; PAP: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.