Resp for RACP Flashcards
What are the fleischner guidelines? Who do they not apply to?
these are the guidelines that are used for the monitoring of asymptomatic pul nodules
Doesnt apply to young pts (<35yrs), pt with cancer, and pts who are immunosupressed
Which type of lung nodule needs to be followed up for the longest period of time? how long do these need to be followed up for? what is the usual length of time for follow up?
Ground glass nodules
- these are a very slow growing type of nodule, hence need to be followed up for longer than most
usually follow up nodule for 2 years
If ground glass, follow for 5yrs
What are some pul nodule specific RF. What is the most important of these and what are the associated cut offs?
SIze
Margins - spiculated
Location - Upper lobe more common
Number - lower risk with > 5 nodules (more likely to be malignancy than 5x primaries)
SIze is main RF
- <6mm in low risk clinical situation is not concerning
- 6mm-20mm is monitored
- >20mm is bad
What are some patient factors in the fleischner guidelines?
Age
Smoking - 30 pk year Hx, quiting within 3 years
Presence of emphysaemia or fibrosis
According to the fleischner guidelines, what combination of patient and nodule risk factors constitute the highest risk of primary lung cancer?
Older
Smoking Hx > 30pyh (active or ceased within 15 years)
Large nodule size
Spiculated margin
upper lobe
Where is aspergilosis found in the environ? any particular buzz words?
Aspergilus is ubiquitous in the environment
Found in soul, vegetation, farming
Buz word: moist hay (hay shed)
WHat are the 4 key groups that get aspergilus infection? WHat sort of infection do they classically get?
Reastive lung disease (ie asthma)
- ABPA (Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis)
- Asthma with fungal sensitisation
Structural lung disease - eg advanced COPD, bronchiectasis
- Aspergiloma
- Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis infection
Immunocopremised pts:
- Invasive aspergiullus infection
Serious viral infection pts
- covid in ICU
What is the basic psychophysiology of ABPA? what is the treatment?
Aspergillus in the airway causes airway inflammation and reactivity
Treatment:
- Pred + itraconazole - 6 months treatment
What is the treatment of aspergiloma?
Usually surgery (unless pt cant have surgery)
- Degree of haemoptysis is main indication for surg (ie lots of haemoptysis then need surg)
Usually give voraconazole pre surg to eliminate as many organism as possible then surgery.
Source control without surg is virtually impossible
Treatment of invasive aspergilosis?
Voriconazole
- stronger and better tissue penetration than itraconazole
Is galactomanin associated with aspergiloma, ABPA, invasive aspergilosis or a combination?
Only invasive aspergilossis
Explain the classification and types of ILD?
Overarching term is ILD (includes anything with interstitial involvment)
- there is 7 groups within ILD
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia
Iatrogenic/drug induced
Occupational/environmental
Granulamoatous disease (sarcoidosis)
Collagen-vascular disease (diffuse scleroderma mainly)
Inherited group (alpha 1 antitripsan def)
Unique identities (eg LAM - dont worry about it)
Is all idiopathic ILD IPF?
No
IPF is one of several types of idiopathic ILDs (grouped into the catagory of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias)
What are the 4 most common drugs that cause ILD? WHat is teh other iatrogenic cause of ILD that is not a drug?
Drugs cause ILD. This is grouped into iatrogenic/drug induced ILD
4 most common are
- Bleomycin (most risk. Usually testicular cancer or NHL. Have to do DLCO monthly to monitor because so high risk)
- Methotrexate
- amiodarone
- Nitrofurantoin
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a cause of itatrogenic ILD. what is the characteristic finding on imaging that is diagnostic of radiotherapy induced ILD (in someone with a hx of radio ofc)?
ILD that follow non anatomical lines
- only radio will cause this
What are the common causes of occupational/environmental ILD?
Farming and non farming related
Non farming:
- silicosis
- Asbestosis
- Coal workers pneumaconiosis
Farming:
- hypersensitivity pneumonitis (acute and chronic)
Who gets silicosis?
- Stone masons
- Stone kitchen bench workers
- Road work workers involved in breasking up road (jack hammers etc)
What are the characteristic features of silicosis on CT?
Multiple calcified LN
- only three things that can result in calcified mediastinal LN: silicosis, sarcoidosis and old inactive TB
Predominately upper lobe ILD
Progressive massive fibrosis
- marked upper lobe distorsis that come from the central upperlobes or hilar
- Only silicosis and sarcopidopsis can cause this
systemic sclerosis and limited cutaneous sclerosis can both cause ILD by different mechanisms. How does CREST vs systemic sclerosis cause ILD?
CREST / limited cutaneous sclerosis
- Causes Pul HTN. Does not result in ILD
Systemic sclerosis
- Causes ILD directly. Then pul HTN as a result of ILD
What class of pul HTN does crest cause? What sort of ILD does systemic sclerosis cause? (class of Pul HTN)
Type 1 (pulmoary arterial HTN)
Type 5 ILD (disease associated)
What are the three different types of resp disease that can be caused by alpha 1 anti trypsan def?
Emphysaema
Bronchiectasis
ILD
Can have combined of in isolation
IPF is always resistant to which medication?
Steroids
- NEVER use steroids in IPF, it will HARM the pt
IPF is the main form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. What are the other types of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia?
NSIP (idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia)
COP (cryptogenic ortganising pneumonia)
RB-ILD (respiratory bronchiolitis ILD)
DIP (desquamative intersitial pneumonia)
AIP (acute interstitial pneumonia)
Which of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias is smoking related?
RB-ILD (respiratory bronchiolitis ILD)
DIP (dresquamative interstitial pneumonia)
they are not all smoking related, but some are
None of the other idiopathic ones are smoking related
What are the two types of ILD that can be reversed with nil medications required (ie LIFESTYLE changes)?
RB-ILD and DIP (both idiopathic interstitial pneumonias) are smoking related
- stop smoking and condition will reverse
Most pts with IDL are breathless, this is a universal features. What is the most important factor re the breathlessness in the Hx taking?
What are some other important factors in Hx?
The onset of the breathlessness
- for example pt with acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis (occupational/environmental ILD) the onset will be hrs to 1 day. Pt with IPF will have breathlessness that onset over months
- Full drug Hx
- Occupational Hx (what the dad does, what the husband does)
- Exposure to pets, bird, farming (often long lag time)
- Family Hx
What is the hall mark / pathopneumonic finding in ILD examination?
Fine inspiratory crackles
Characteristic lung function test in ILD?
Restrictive spirometry
- reduced FEV, preserved or increased FEV1/FVC ratio
Lung volumes in a equal ILD pattern
- TLV = RV + VC
- If TLC, RV, VC are reduced equally, then this is ILD (this is how it is distinguished form neuromusclular pattern)
DLCO reduced (usually <40%
- this will be the first thing to decline (lung thickens before the clinical restriction occurs)
What degree of desaturation on a 6 min walk test is associated with a poor prognosis in ILD?
<88% at all during the 6 min walk test
CXR findings in ILD (IPF as an example)?
Early disease:
- normal
Late disease:
- Small lung volumes
- Diffuse changes throughout both lung fields
- Predominant basal changes (gradient)
SOme ILD changes on CXR are often written off in ED as what?
Poor insp effort
- small volumes with increased markings is exactly what you see in ILD therefore often described as poor insp effort by radiology