Diffuse Pulmonary Nodules

摘要

Adiffuse pattern of pulmonary nodules, ranging from a few millimeters to 1 cm in diameter, may indicate interstitial or airspace disease (Algorithm 1). The pre-dominant location of the nodules may provide a clue to the underlying condition. For example, fissural or pleural surfaces are frequently involved in sarcoidosis. Upper lobe predominance suggests silicosis or coal workers' pneumoconiosis; whereas lower lobe preponderance is more likely in asbestosis or hematogenous metastases, and bronchocen-tric predominance suggests sarcoidosis or Kaposi sarcoma. The nodules may have a miliary distribution (tuberculosis, silicosis, sarcoidosis, metastases), cavitate (septic emboli, metastases, infection) (Fig. 1), or calcify (tuberculosis, silicosis, metastases).