Korean J Med.  1999 Feb;56(2):215-219.

A Case of Respiratory Bronchiolitis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

• Park YJ
• Cho JH
• Ryu JS
• Lee HL

Abstract

Respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD) is an inflammatory lung disorder associated with cigarette smoking. The clinical and radiographic findings of RB-ILD are nonspecific and most patients with RB-ILD are thought to have some form of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis prior to lung biopsy. Open lung biopsy of patients with RB-ILD reveals inflammation of the respiratory bronchioles, filling of the bronchiolar lumens and surrounding alveoli with finely pigmented macrophages, associated interstitial inflammation. Alveolar septa, particularly around terminal and membranous bronchioles, are mildly fibrotic. We recently experienced a case of RB-ILD proven by open lung biopsy.

Keyword

Respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease; Cigarette smoking; Open lung biopsy

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Bronchioles
Humans
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Inflammation
Lung
Lung Diseases, Interstitial*
Macrophages
Smoking