title: Histologic diagnosis of extrinsic allergic alveolitis.
abstract: Twenty-seven patients with open-lung biopsy findings consistent with extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis) were studied. In only one case had the diagnosis been considered prior to the biopsy. Among the 27 patients, a causative exposure was subsequently identified in 10, and no apparent cause could be found in the remaining 17. The prognosis for the entire group was good; all 10 patients in whom an exposure was found and 13 of 17 without causative exposure are alive without progressive lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, LDS Hospital, Utah.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Colby
mesh_terms: D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests