CTICasesDiffuse Peribronchiolar Metaplasia
▶ Watch on YouTube — age-restricted, cannot embed here
Imaging findings
Chest CTs over several months show varying degrees of centrilobular nodularity, sometimes with peribronchovascular consolidation. When consolidation improves, centrilobular nodularity persists. Biopsy during an acute phase revealed organizing pneumonia. Final open lung biopsy showed diffuse centrilobular nodules.
Key takeaways
Diffuse peribronchiolar metaplasia is a rare but distinct pathological finding characterized by the ingrowth of normal respiratory epithelium along alveolar walls, starting from the respiratory bronchioles, forming centrilobular nodules. While small amounts are common in lung disease, diffuse presentations are unusual. It can mimic adenocarcinoma, particularly lepidic growth, but lacks the cellular atypia of malignancy. In this case, there was a history of crack cocaine use, which has been reported in association with severe peribronchiolar metaplasia. This entity represents a proliferative airway-centered process that can cause persistent centrilobular nodularity on imaging.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Pseudo CoarctationCongenital
- Systolic Anterior Motion (SAM) of the Mitral Valve without Hypertrophic CardiomyopathyVascular
- Legionella PneumoniaInfection
- BlastomycosisInfection
- Primary Pulmonary Amyloidosis (Alveolar Septal Pattern)Metabolic
- Cavitating Pulmonary Infarct secondary to Pulmonary EmbolismVascular
- Cavitating Squamous Cell Carcinoma mimicking Lung AbscessNeoplastic
- Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Pleura (SFTP) at Cardiophrenic AngleNeoplastic
See all cases from July 23, 2015 →