Alveolar lung disease

WikiDoc Resources for Alveolar lung disease
Articles
Most recent articles on Alveolar lung disease Most cited articles on Alveolar lung disease Review articles on Alveolar lung disease Articles on Alveolar lung disease in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Alveolar lung disease Images of Alveolar lung disease Photos of Alveolar lung disease Podcasts & MP3s on Alveolar lung disease Videos on Alveolar lung disease
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Alveolar lung disease Bandolier on Alveolar lung disease TRIP on Alveolar lung disease
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Alveolar lung disease at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Alveolar lung disease Clinical Trials on Alveolar lung disease at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Alveolar lung disease NICE Guidance on Alveolar lung disease NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Alveolar lung disease CDC on Alveolar lung disease
Books
Books on Alveolar lung disease
News
Alveolar lung disease in the news Be alerted to news on Alveolar lung disease News trends on Alveolar lung disease
Commentary
Blogs on Alveolar lung disease
Definitions
Definitions of Alveolar lung disease
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Alveolar lung disease Discussion groups on Alveolar lung disease Patient Handouts on Alveolar lung disease Directions to Hospitals Treating Alveolar lung disease Risk calculators and risk factors for Alveolar lung disease
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Alveolar lung disease Causes & Risk Factors for Alveolar lung disease Diagnostic studies for Alveolar lung disease Treatment of Alveolar lung disease
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Alveolar lung disease
International
Alveolar lung disease en Espanol Alveolar lung disease en Francais
Business
Alveolar lung disease in the Marketplace Patents on Alveolar lung disease
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Alveolar lung disease

Alveolar lung disease, also known as airspace disease, is a general term that described edema and exudates in the airspaces of the lung (the acini and alveoli).

Causes

Alveolar lung disease may be divided into acute or chronic. Causes of acute alveolar lung disease include pulmonary edema (cardiogenic or neurogenic), pneumonia (bacterial or viral), pulmonary embolism, systemic lupus erythemosus, pulmonary hemorrhae (e.g., Goodpasture syndrome), idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, and Wegner granulomatosis.

Chronic alveolar lung disease can be caused by pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, alveolar cell carcinoma, mineral oil pneumonia, sarcoidosis (alveolar form), lymphoma, tuberculosis, metastases, desquamative interstitial pneumonia

Radiographic findings

Alveolar disease is visible on chest radiography as small, ill-defined nodules of homogeneous density centered around the acini or bronchioles. The nodules coalesce early in the course of disease, such that the nodules may only be seen as soft fluffy edges in the periphery.

When the nodules are centered around the hilar regions, the chest x-ray may develop what is called the "butterfly," or "batwing" appearance. The nodules may also have a segmental or lobar distribution. Air alveolograms and air bronchograms can also be seen.

These findings appear soon after the onset of symptoms and change rapidly thereafter.

A segmental or lobar pattern may be apparent after aspiration pneumonia, atelectasis, lung contusion, localized pulmonary edema, obstructive pneumonia, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism with infarction, or tuberculosis.