Bronchiolectasis refers to the abnormal and permanent dilation of
the bronchioles, the smaller airways within the lungs. It often
occurs in conjunction with or as a result of chronic lung conditions
like bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or inflammatory diseases, and it
can also be a consequence of severe or recurrent infections that
damage the bronchiolar walls. The pathogenesis involves chronic
inflammation and destruction of the bronchiolar tissue, leading to a
weakened structure and loss of normal airway clearance. This
results in mucus accumulation, recurrent infections, and airflow
obstruction, which can cause symptoms like chronic cough,
shortness of breath, and frequent respiratory infections. Diagnosis
is primarily based on imaging studies, especially high-resolution CT
scans, which show dilated and thickened bronchioles
51-year-old female smoker with a history of COPD asthma and pulmonary hypertension presents with progressive dyspnea. Axial CT through the right posterior recess shows patchy ground glass changes with some regions of mosaicism. The bronchovascular bundle subtending 2 secondary lobules is highlighted in the lower panel. The centrilobular arteriole and ectatic bronchiole are magnified
Pathology confirmed a diagnosis of DIP
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net 252Lu 135981c
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net
Links and References
Fleischner Society
bronchiolectasis
Pathology.—Bronchiolectasis is defined as dilatation of bronchioles. It is caused by inflammatory airways disease (potentially reversible) or, more frequently, fibrosis.
CT scans.—When dilated bronchioles are filled with exudate and are thick walled, they are visible as a tree-in-bud pattern or as centrilobular nodules (,31,,32). In traction bronchiolectasis, the dilated bronchioles are seen as small, cystic, tubular airspaces, associated with CT findings of fibrosis (,Fig 12). (See also traction bronchiectasis and traction bronchiolectasis, tree-in-bud pattern.)