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Diffuse bronchiolar disease due to chronic occult aspiration
Terrance W Barnes1, Robert Vassallo, Henry D Tazelaar
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings
|February 14, 2006
Summary
Diffuse bronchiolar disease from chronic occult aspiration is an underrecognized lung condition. Key diagnostic features include bronchiolocentric organizing pneumonia with food material, often missed by bronchoscopic biopsies.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Pathology
Background:
- Chronic occult aspiration is a potential cause of diffuse bronchiolar disease.
- This condition may affect individuals without overt aspiration symptoms.
Observation:
- Four patients with persistent respiratory symptoms and lung infiltrates were studied.
- Radiological findings included interstitial infiltrates on chest radiography and centrilobular nodules on CT scans.
- Bronchoscopic biopsies were nondiagnostic, necessitating surgical lung biopsy.
Findings:
- Surgical lung biopsies revealed bronchiolocentric organizing pneumonia with giant cells containing food material.
- The mean patient age was 50, with some presenting without active gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.
Implications:
- Diffuse bronchiolar disease due to aspiration may be more common than previously thought.
- Distinct radiological features differentiate this from typical aspiration pneumonia.
- Surgical lung biopsy is crucial for diagnosis in suspected cases.