title: Primary Pulmonary Lymphoid Lesions: Radiologic and Pathologic Findings.
abstract: The pulmonary lymphoid system is complex and is composed of two compartments: the pulmonary lymphatics and the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). Additional important cells that function in the pulmonary lymphoid system include dendritic cells, Langherhans cells, macrophages, and plasma cells. An appreciation of the normal lymphoid anatomy of the lung as well as its immunology is helpful in understanding the radiologic and pathologic findings of the primary pulmonary lymphoid lesions. Primary lymphoid lesions of the lung arise from the BALT and are uncommon. However, they are increasingly recognized within the growing number of posttransplant patients as well as other patients who are receiving immunosuppressive therapies. Primary lymphoid lesions encompass a wide range of benign and malignant lesions. Benign lymphoid lesions of the lung include reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, follicular bronchiolitis, lymphoid interstitial pneumonia, and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. Malignant lymphoid lesions of the lung include low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), other non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Last, a miscellaneous group of primary lymphoid lesions includes lymphomatoid granulomatosis, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related lymphoma, and intravascular lymphoma/lymphomatosis. These lesions are best evaluated with multidetector chest computed tomography. The radiologic findings of the primary lymphoid lesions are often nonspecific and are best interpreted in correlation with clinical data and pathologic findings. The purpose of this article is to review pulmonary lymphoid anatomy as well as the most common primary pulmonary lymphoid disorders.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067 (A.S.); Departments of Pathology (K.R.) and Radiology (V.A.L., S.D.), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill; Department of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Md (T.J.F.); Departments of Diagnostic Radiology (Chest Imaging) and Internal Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (J.R.G., C.S.W.); and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Md (J.R.G.).
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sirajuddin
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067 (A.S.); Departments of Pathology (K.R.) and Radiology (V.A.L., S.D.), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill; Department of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Md (T.J.F.); Departments of Diagnostic Radiology (Chest Imaging) and Internal Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (J.R.G., C.S.W.); and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Md (J.R.G.).
authors.forename: Kirtee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raparia
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067 (A.S.); Departments of Pathology (K.R.) and Radiology (V.A.L., S.D.), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill; Department of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Md (T.J.F.); Departments of Diagnostic Radiology (Chest Imaging) and Internal Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (J.R.G., C.S.W.); and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Md (J.R.G.).
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067 (A.S.); Departments of Pathology (K.R.) and Radiology (V.A.L., S.D.), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill; Department of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Md (T.J.F.); Departments of Diagnostic Radiology (Chest Imaging) and Internal Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (J.R.G., C.S.W.); and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Md (J.R.G.).
authors.forename: Teri J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067 (A.S.); Departments of Pathology (K.R.) and Radiology (V.A.L., S.D.), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill; Department of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Md (T.J.F.); Departments of Diagnostic Radiology (Chest Imaging) and Internal Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (J.R.G., C.S.W.); and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Md (J.R.G.).
authors.forename: Sabeen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhand
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067 (A.S.); Departments of Pathology (K.R.) and Radiology (V.A.L., S.D.), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill; Department of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Md (T.J.F.); Departments of Diagnostic Radiology (Chest Imaging) and Internal Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (J.R.G., C.S.W.); and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Md (J.R.G.).
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Galvin
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067 (A.S.); Departments of Pathology (K.R.) and Radiology (V.A.L., S.D.), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill; Department of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Pathology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Md (T.J.F.); Departments of Diagnostic Radiology (Chest Imaging) and Internal Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (J.R.G., C.S.W.); and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Md (J.R.G.).
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*