pulmonary disorders
Respiratory Bronchiolitis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Diagnosis of RBILD
Chest x-ray High-resolution CT (HRCT) Sometimes surgical lung biopsy Diagnosis of respiratory bronchiolitis–associated interstitial lung disease is considered in patients who smoke and are being evaluated for interstitial lung disease. Diagnostic testing includes imaging tests and biopsy. Chest x-rayfindings include the following: Bronchial wall thickening Diffuse, fine reticular or nodular opacities Prominent peribronchovascular interstitium Small peripheral ring shadows Small regular and irregular opacities HRCToften shows centrilobular nodules and patchy areas of hazy ground-glass opacities. A mixed obstructive-restrictive pattern is a common Overview of Tests of Pulmonary Function finding, although results may be normal or show an isolated increase in residual volume. Routine laboratory tests are not helpful. Lung biopsy (usually surgical) is sometimes obtained if the diagnosis remains unclear and a trial of smoking cessation has not decreased symptoms. 