Diffuse pulmonary nodules
Diffuse pulmonary nodules are usually seen as multiple pulmonary nodular opacifications on a HRCT chest scan. They can signify disease processes affecting either the interstitium or the airspace. They can range from a few millimeters to up to 1 cm and when very small and numerous there can be some overlap with the term miliary nodules. They can arise from a vast number of pathological entities.
Differential diagnosis
Differentials to be considered include:
- sarcoidosis
- silicosis
- respiratory bronchiolitis (infective or non-infective)
- other forms of infection
- tuberculosis: bronchogenic disseminated tuberculosis
- non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection
- other infective bronchiolitides
- fungal infections such as forms of aspergillus infection
- septic emboli from infective endocarditis or infected tube
- small airway disease
- hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- malignant entities
- nodular metastases
- bronchoalveolar carcinoma (now known as AIS-MIA)
- forms of pulmonary lymphoma
- kaposi sarcoma
- other miscellaneous conditions