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A case of idiopathic constrictive bronchiolitis in a middle‐aged male smoker
Author(s) -
Tsujino Ichizo,
Nishimura Masaharu,
Ohira Kouji,
Yoshimura Haruhiko,
Fukuda Yuh
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1843.2000.00266.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchiolitis , copd , exertional dyspnea , air trapping , pathological , diffusing capacity , hyperinflation , bronchiolitis obliterans , lung , airway , pulmonary disease , airway obstruction , lung biopsy , cardiology , respiratory system , surgery , lung function , lung transplantation , monetary policy , economics , monetary economics
When one sees a middle‐aged male smoker who presents with progressive exertional dyspnoea and irreversible airflow obstruction, the most likely clinical diagnosis is pulmonary emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We report a 45‐year‐old male smoker who was initially suspected to have such a disease but was eventually diagnosed as having idiopathic constrictive bronchiolitis by lung biopsy, clinical history, and laboratory findings. A finding on lung computed tomography of diffuse hyperinflation but few low attenuation areas and relatively well‐preserved diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide seems to be the key for suspecting this rare clinical entity. The pathological difference between this bronchiolitis and small airway disease observed in COPD will be also discussed.