Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Smoking-Related "Interstitial" Lung Disease
Teri J Franks1, Jeffrey R Galvin
1From Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Maryland (Dr Franks); and the Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Chest Imaging Section, and Internal Medicine, Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, and Chest Imaging, American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Maryland (Dr Galvin).
Cigarette smoking causes a wide spectrum of lung damage, including previously unrecognized alveolar wall fibrosis. Current diagnostic categories for smokers' lung disease need updating to include fibrosis.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary pathology
- Histopathology of smoking-related lung diseases
Background:
- Recognized smoking-related lung injuries include emphysema, respiratory bronchiolitis, and interstitial pneumonia.
- Emerging evidence highlights cigarette smoke's role in alveolar wall fibrosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review literature on lung histology in smokers.
- To examine the link between smoking and alveolar wall fibrosis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of peer-reviewed articles.
- PubMed database search (National Library of Medicine).
Main Results:
- Smokers exhibit diverse lung injuries beyond established categories.
- Alveolar wall and airway fibrosis are significant findings in smokers.
Conclusions:
- Biopsies reveal a broad range of lung injuries in smokers.
- Existing classification systems inadequately address smoking-induced fibrosis.
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