Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Manpreet Kaur, MD [2]

Overview

Patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia usually appear in mild distress. On examination, the patient is usually febrile, in tachypnea, tachycardia with the regular pulse. On lung auscultation there are bilateral vesicular breath sounds, fine crackles and wheezing is heard.

Patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia usually appear in mild distress.^[1]^[2]

Skin examination of patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia is usually normal.

HEENT examination of patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia is usually normal.

Neck examination of patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia is usually normal.

On examination patient is in mild dyspnea.
Lungs are hyperresonant.
Coarse crackles upon auscultation of the lung bases/apices bilaterally depending upon the consolidation.
Vesicular breath sounds.
Wheezing may be present.

↑ Cazzato S, Zompatori M, Baruzzi G, Schiattone ML, Burzi M, Rossi A, Ratta L, Terzuolo G, Falcone F, Poletti V (2000). “Bronchiolitis obliterans-organizing pneumonia: an Italian experience”. Respir Med. 94 (7): 702–8. doi:10.1053/rmed.2000.0805. PMID 10926343.
↑ Cordier JF, Loire R, Brune J (1989). “Idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. Definition of characteristic clinical profiles in a series of 16 patients”. Chest. 96 (5): 999–1004. PMID 2805873.
↑ Epler GR, Colby TV, McLoud TC, Carrington CB, Gaensler EA (January 1985). “Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia”. N. Engl. J. Med. 312 (3): 152–8. doi:10.1056/NEJM198501173120304. PMID 3965933.
↑ Cordier JF (December 1993). “Cryptogenic organizing pneumonitis. Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia”. Clin. Chest Med. 14 (4): 677–92. PMID 8313672.