title: High-resolution computed tomography and histopathological findings in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a pictorial essay.
abstract: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a diffuse interstitial and granulomatous lung disease caused by the inhalation of any one of a number of antigens. The objective of this study was to illustrate the spectrum of abnormalities in high-resolution computed tomography and histopathological findings related to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. We retrospectively evaluated patients who had been diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (on the basis of clinical-radiological or clinical-radiological-pathological correlations) and had undergone lung biopsy. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is clinically divided into acute, subacute, and chronic forms; high-resolution computed tomography findings correlate with the time of exposure; and the two occasionally overlap. In the subacute form, centrilobular micronodules, ground-glass opacities, and air trapping are characteristic high-resolution computed tomography findings, whereas histopathology shows lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates, bronchiolitis, variable degrees of organizing pneumonia, and giant cells. In the chronic form, high-resolution computed tomography shows traction bronchiectasis, honeycombing, and lung fibrosis, the last also being seen in the biopsy sample. A definitive diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be made only through a multidisciplinary approach, by correlating clinical findings, exposure history, high-resolution computed tomography findings, and lung biopsy findings.
authors.affiliation: MD, Radiologist, Volunteer at the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Radiologist at Clínica Multimagem, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Paulo Teixeira E Silva
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marise Amaral Rebouças
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: MD, MSc, Pulmonologist at the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Graner Schuwartz Tannus
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: MD, Radiologist, Graduate Student in Breast Imaging at Hospital do Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Rodrigues Monteiro
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: da Gama
authors.affiliation: MD, Pathologist, Assistant Professor at the Anápolis Unievangélica, Anápolis, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denis Masashi
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor at the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Auxiliadora do Carmo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moreira
keywords: Alveolitis, extrinsic allergic/pathology; Lung diseases, interstitial; Tomography, X-ray computed