Open AccessPersistent diffuse pulmonary interstitial emphysema mimicking pulmonary emphysema
Author(s) -
Yoshiki Demura,
T Ishizaki,
Masayoshi Nakanishi,
Shingo Ameshima,
Harumi Itoh
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.09.2008.0882
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary function testing , chest radiograph , pulmonary emphysema , asthma , pulmonary disease , lung , interstitial lung disease , air trapping , pathology , radiology , cardiology
A 69-year-old male non-smoker with a history of atopic asthma presented with symptoms suggestive of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and this appeared to be corroborated by lung function testing and a chest radiograph. However, a chest CT showed no evidence of pulmonary emphysema and instead demonstrated free air along the bronchovascular sheaths indicative of pulmonary interstistial emphysema, possibly caused by repeated prior exacerbations of asthma. His lung function tests and symptoms improved within months of being treated for his airways disease but the CT findings were unchanged after 2 years.