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Chronic Bronchiolitis in Adults

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Orphan Lung Diseases

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Abstract

Bronchiolitis (or bronchiolitis obliterans) primarily affects the small conducting airways (3 mm or less in diameter), with limited involvement of interstitium. The small airways, bronchioles, are divided into terminal (membranous) and respiratory bronchioles. Bronchiolitis results from damage to the bronchiolar epithelium resulting in some degree of inflammation, narrowing, or obliteration of the small airways. The severity and persistence of the injury may determine whether there is resolution and recovery or progression to a less reversible intramural or intraluminal fibrotic state. A clinical classification and a histopathologic classification are useful in defining cases of bronchiolitis. A surgical lung biopsy is frequently required to make a definitive diagnosis, especially if there is not a clear predisposition and typical HRCT. Treatment of the various forms of bronchiolitis depends upon the underlying cause or associated disorder.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, 0120, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0120, USA

    Talmadge E. King Jr. MD

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  1. Talmadge E. King Jr. MD
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Correspondence to Talmadge E. King Jr. MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rare Pulmonary Diseases, Hôpital Louis Pradel, Lyon, France

    Vincent Cottin

  2. Rare Pulmonary Diseases, Hôpital Louis Pradel, Lyon, France

    Jean-Francois Cordier

  3. Respiratory Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom

    Luca Richeldi

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King, T.E. (2015). Chronic Bronchiolitis in Adults. In: Cottin, V., Cordier, JF., Richeldi, L. (eds) Orphan Lung Diseases. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2401-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2401-6_3

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-2401-6

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