Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ground glass opacification on CT
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Ground glass opacification (GGO) is seen as increased opacification of lung without obscuration of the bronchial and vascular markings. Ground glass opacification can represent partially filled alveoli, active inflammation, or fine fibrosis below the resolution of CT images [1].
Differential Diagnosis
Differential Diagnosis
- Alveolar proteinosis
- Acute chest syndrome
- Acute lung transplant rejection
- Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Acute interstitial pneumonitis
- Bleeding: Pulmonary hemorrhage. Etiologies of pulmonary hemorrhage include:
- Bronchiolitis obliterans oganizing pneumonia (BOOP)
- Bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease
- Bronchoalveolar lavage
- CMV (Herpes simplex and pneumocystits)
- Contusion
- Cancer (Bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma)
- Drug toxicity
- Desquamative interstitial pneumonitis
- Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
- Eosinophilic pneumonia
- Edema
- Fibrosis
- Granulomatous disease (Sarcoidosis)
- Infection (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia)
References
References
- ↑ Miller WT, Shah RM. Isolated diffuse ground-glass opacity in thoracic CT: causes and clinical presentations. AJR 2005; 184: 613-622
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]