Understanding cystic lung lesions in smokers with interstitial lung disease: radiologic-pathological correlation.

ABSTRACT: Due to destructive, fibrotic, and remodeling mechanisms, we can find a varied constellation of aerated and cystic lung lesions in smoker patients with interstitial lung disease that pose a diagnostic challenge for both radiologists and pathologists. Radiologic terminology used for cystic lung lesions in smokers is varied and sometimes confusing, and the same applies to their pathologic correlation, with different names for similar findings. Moreover, there is substantial overlap among different cystic lesions in both radiology and pathology. Ultimately, the diagnosis of a given type of cyst may lead to a wrong diagnosis with important clinical implications. In this setting, the goals of this article are to present a diagnostic approach to these lesions by correlating radiologic findings wi

SUBMITTER: Arenas-Jimenez JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12443667 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature