Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis: AllA Radiologist Needs To Know

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an immunological lung disorder occurring due to hypersensitivity to fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Early diagnosis of ABPA is desirable as the disease can cause irreversible damage and end stage lung disease. Diagnosis of ABPA is based upon a set of clinical, serological and radiological criteria. Radiology plays an important role in the diagnosis of ABPA. However a radiologist should also be familiar with various clinical and serological criteria, so as to have a complete understanding of the disease process and to give a confident diagnosis.

To describe various clinical, laboratory and radiological findings in ABPA with a comprehensive review of various diagnostic criteria.

We searched the literature for various criteria that have been used for diagnosis of ABPA. We also extensively reviewed the radiology literature to look for various imaging findings described in ABPA. We searched the role of various imaging modalities used in evaluation of ABPA starting with conventional radiography to computed tomography to magnetic resonance imaging.

In this article, we have reviewed clinical, serological and radiological aspects of ABPA, with emphasis on the radiological findings. We have also described the various diagnostic criteria of ABPA.

In recent years, role of radiology in ABPA has evolved. Radiology plays an important role not only in diagnosis but also classification and prognostication of the disease. A radiologist should also be familiar with the clinical spectrum and laboratory findings of the disease.