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Imaging Cystic Lung Disease

  • Pulmonary Radiology (M Stephens and S Kapur, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Pulmonology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Cystic lung disease is characterized by multiple air-filled spaces in the lung. Pulmonary cysts occur in a variety of diseases, including infectious, inhalational, genetic, and neoplastic conditions. The purpose of this report is to review the CT imaging patterns and appearances of the most common cystic lung diseases, and to highlight the differences between different cystic lung diseases and the unique qualities related to each condition.

Recent Findings

Common cystic lung diseases include lymphangioleiomyomatosis, pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, and light chain deposition disease/amyloidosis. Infections or age-related change may also result in cystic lung disease.

Summary

Cystic lung disease has multiple etiologies. CT imaging allows for characterization of lung cyst morphology, pattern, and distribution; familiarity with the imaging appearance of the most common cystic lung diseases allows for earlier identification, diagnosis, and disease management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Division of Cardiopulmonary Imaging, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Mail Stop L954, 12401 E. 17th Avenue, Room 516, Aurora, CO, USA

    Tami J. Bang, Thomas D. Suby-Long & Daniel Vargas

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  1. Tami J. Bang
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Correspondence to Tami J. Bang.

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Tami J. Bang, Thomas D. Suby-Long, and Daniel Vargas declare no conflict of interest.

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Bang, T.J., Suby-Long, T.D. & Vargas, D. Imaging Cystic Lung Disease. Curr Pulmonol Rep 8, 69–77 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-019-00227-w

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