Follicular Bronchiolitis



Follicular Bronchiolitis


Jud W. Gurney, MD, FACR










Micropathology shows peribronchiolar image germinal centers image in a patient with follicular bronchiolitis.






Axial HRCT shows faint centrilobular nodules image and tree-in-bud opacities image. Follicular bronchiolitis was the diagnosis.


TERMINOLOGY


Abbreviations and Synonyms



  • Pulmonary lymphoid hyperplasia, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP), lymphoid interstitial pneumonia


  • Diffuse hyperplasia of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT), mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)


Definitions



  • Spectrum of lymphoid disorders



    • Follicular bronchiolitis to nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (pseudolymphoma), LIP, and lymphoma


  • Nonneoplastic lymphoproliferation must be differentiated from lymphoma by immunologic stains



    • Monoclonal cell lines in lymphoma, polyclonal in nonneoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders


IMAGING FINDINGS


General Features



  • Best diagnostic clue: Centrilobular nodules, faint


  • Patient position/location: Diffuse or lower lung zones


  • Size: Nodules < 3 mm in diameter


  • Morphology: Follicular bronchiolitis centered on airways (leads to centrilobular nodules), LIP more diffuse


CT Findings

Sep 20, 2016 | Posted by in RESPIRATORY IMAGING | Comments Off on Follicular Bronchiolitis

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