Bronchiolitis: Classification, Computed Tomographic and Histopathologic Features, and Radiologic Approach

Eun-Young Kang, MD, Ok Hee Woo, MD, Bong Kyung Shin, MD, Hwan Seok Yong, MD, Yu-Whan Oh, MD, and Han Kyeom Kim, MD

Abstract: The introduction of thin-section computed tomography (CT) has improved the diagnosis of bronchiolitis and contributed to establish bronchiolitis as an important part of pulmonary medicine. The histo�pathologic groups of bronchiolitis include cellular bronchiolitis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, follicular bronchiolitis, respiratory bronchiolitis, pro�liferative bronchiolitis, constrictive bronchiolitis, and mineral dust air�way disease. Bronchiolitis can be readily identified and may lead to characteristic findings on thin-section CT. Various bronchiolitis ma�nifests as one or a combination of 3 main patterns in thin-section CT: centrilobular nodules and branching densities, ground-glass attenuation and consolidation, and low attenuation and mosaic perfusion pattern.