clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia is a relatively recently described entity whose cardinal features are:
- cough
- fever
- dyspnoea
There are often crackles to be heard on auscultation.
Its clinical presentation can to be varied, from a mild subacute form, to a chronically progressive syndrome or acute severe life threatening illness.
Chest radiograph appearances typically show bilateral patchy infiltrates, which do not improve following antibiotic therapy. Pulmonary function studies reveal a decreased vital capacity, normal flow rates in non-smokers and a decreased diffusing capacity.
Diagnosis is often made on histological appearances of material obtained by transbronchial biopsy.