Diffuse Alveolar Damage: A Common Phenomenon in Progressive Interstitial Lung Disorders
Figure 1
Radiological and histological findings of an AIP patient who was actively treated by mechanical ventilation and high doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. (a) Chest X-ray showing alveolar infiltrates at the time when the patient was mechanically ventilated. (b) HRCT findings of the upper lung lobes showing ground glass opacity and infiltrates. HRCT was taken on the following day after the chest X-ray shown in panel (a) Both Chest-X-ray and HRCT have been taken 2-3 days before taking the lung biopsy by VATS. (c) Lung biopsy findings of the same patient showing interstitial fibrosis and fibroblast proliferation representing late stages of organizing phase of DAD after treatment of several weeks. The patient recovered well with minimal radiological (d) and functional abnormalities within the lungs documented 4 years after the episode.
