Diffuse Lung Disease Flashcards
What changes occur in the alveolar compartment in diffuse lung disease?
Inflammatory cells
Fibrin
Pulmonary oedema
What changes occur in the interstitial compartment in diffuse lung disease?
Chronic inflammatory cells
Collagen deposition
Fibrosis
What changes occur in the vascular compartment in diffuse lung disease?
Capillary inflammation and leak
Differentiate between airways disease, diffuse lung disease and pulmonary vascular disease in terms of the typical presentation
Airways: wheeze, cough, sputum, dyspnoea
Diffuse: cough, dyspnoea (wheeze unusual)
Vascular: dyspnoea, pleuritic pain, haemoptysis
What is diffuse lung disease?
Label for a common presentation of a number of lung diseases featuring dyspnoea, cough and a CXR featuring diffuse lung involvement
Involves either or both of alveoli and interstitium, including the pulmonary vasculature
What are the 4 layers of the interstitium?
Alveolar cell Epithelial basement membrane Connective tissue (with passing and fixed cell populations, and fluid traffic) Endothelial basement membrane Endothelial cell
Describe 3 processes which can cause diffuse lung disease acutely
Water
Inflammation due to acute inhalation injury, drug toxicity or infection
Blood due to diffuse leakage from inflamed vessels (e.g. in vasculitis)
Describe the acute presentation of diffuse lung disease
"Stiff lungs" Tachypnoea Severe dyspnoea Increased WOB Cough Hypoxia (due to serious V/Q impairment)
What kinds of processes cause a diffuse lung pattern?
Subacute or chronic (presenting over months to years) interstitial disease
List some interstitial diseases
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Sarcoidosis Occupational Extrinsic allergic alveolitis Drugs Radiotherapy Pulmonary fibrosis associated with connective tissue diseases Vasculitis
Investigations for diffuse lung disease
Respiratory function tests (e.g. spirometry, diffusion capacity, lung volumes)
Oximetry
HRCT (+/- CTPA, CTBA)
Bloods: signs of systemic illness and connective tissue diseases
Echo: LV dysfunction, pulmonary HTN
Lung biopsy (not always required)
Expected findings on respiratory testing in diffuse lung disease
Restrictive pattern: reduced FVC, normal or increased FEV1/FVC
Reduced DLCO
Expected findings on oximetry in diffuse lung disease
Normal resting saturation but rapid desaturation on exertion, improved with intranasal oxygen
8 most common diffuse lung diseases (and 2 rarer)
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Sarcoidosis Lymphangitic carcinomatosis Oedema Asbestosis Collagen vascular diseases Silicosis Drugs Rarer: Langerhans' granulomatosis, Farmer's lung
Distinguish between alveolar and interstitial opacity
Alveolar opacity: opacity on CXR associated with fluid filling the air spaces, appears fluffy or cotton wool-like
Interstitial opacity: abnormal appearance of lung interstitium, 4 basic patterns (linear, reticular, nodular, reticulonodular)
Describe the linear pattern of interstitial opacity
Septal lines (Kerley lines)
Describe the reticular pattern of interstitial opacity
Mesh-like appearance with lines in all directions
Describe the nodular pattern of interstitial opacity
Discrete opacities
Describe the linear pattern of interstitial opacity
Mesh-like appearance with lines in all directions
Discrete opacities
What are the 4 “compartments” where lung diseases occur?
Conducting airways
Gas exchange
Interstitium
Vascular