title: Bronchiolitis: A Practical Approach for the General Radiologist.
abstract: Radiologists consciously or unconsciously encounter bronchiolitis on images frequently. The purpose of this article is to simplify the concept of bronchiolitis to facilitate the formulation of a succinct and accurate differential diagnosis and suggest potential causes for the imaging findings. Direct and indirect signs of bronchiolitis that are seen on computed tomographic images are detailed. The most common causes of bronchiolitis are covered, including several distinct entities to be considered in specific clinical scenarios. In order of prevalence, the top two causes of bronchiolitis are infection and aspiration. Less common entities include respiratory bronchiolitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which tend to manifest with ground-glass centrilobular nodules. Some types of bronchiolitis affect specific ethnic groups or are associated with a characteristic clinical history. For example, diffuse panbronchiolitis typically affects Japanese subjects. Constrictive bronchiolitis should be considered in lung transplant recipients with ongoing rejection. Given the high frequency of bronchiolitis, radiologists should develop a systematic approach to both cellular and constrictive bronchiolitis. Recognition of specific clinical or imaging characteristics may be sufficient for providing a relevant differential diagnosis.©RSNA, 2017.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Thoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, St Luke's Hospital, 4401 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 (P.J.W., S.M.J., M.L.R.d.C.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex (S.L.B.); Department of Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (C.S.R.); and MedStar St Mary's Hospital, Washington, DC (A.E.).
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Winningham
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Thoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, St Luke's Hospital, 4401 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 (P.J.W., S.M.J., M.L.R.d.C.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex (S.L.B.); Department of Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (C.S.R.); and MedStar St Mary's Hospital, Washington, DC (A.E.).
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martínez-Jiménez
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Thoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, St Luke's Hospital, 4401 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 (P.J.W., S.M.J., M.L.R.d.C.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex (S.L.B.); Department of Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (C.S.R.); and MedStar St Mary's Hospital, Washington, DC (A.E.).
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rosado-de-Christenson
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Thoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, St Luke's Hospital, 4401 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 (P.J.W., S.M.J., M.L.R.d.C.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex (S.L.B.); Department of Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (C.S.R.); and MedStar St Mary's Hospital, Washington, DC (A.E.).
authors.forename: Sonia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Betancourt
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Thoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, St Luke's Hospital, 4401 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 (P.J.W., S.M.J., M.L.R.d.C.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex (S.L.B.); Department of Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (C.S.R.); and MedStar St Mary's Hospital, Washington, DC (A.E.).
authors.forename: Carlos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Thoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, St Luke's Hospital, 4401 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 (P.J.W., S.M.J., M.L.R.d.C.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex (S.L.B.); Department of Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (C.S.R.); and MedStar St Mary's Hospital, Washington, DC (A.E.).
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eraso
mesh_terms: D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans