Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease: A Literature Review

Abstract

Diffuse cystic lung diseases (DCLD) are a heterogeneous group of pulmonary disorders that are characterized by multiple air-filled spaces or cysts within the lung parenchyma. Several other lung diseases can radiologically present the same as DCLD. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) provides an accurate description of the morphological characteristics of these cystic lesions. This knowledge of cystic CT patterns is important for narrowing the differential diagnosis, although a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to make the correct diagnosis. The clinical features and radiological findings are quite similar in many patients; therefore, an exploration of the appropriate diagnosis is a great clinical challenge. This literature review focuses on the major DCLDs: lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH), Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD), and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP).