What is ground-glass interstitial disease of the lung?

Ground-glass interstitial disease of the lung is a disease characterised by the presence of areas of increased lung density on high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans, but with preserved lung architecture and no evidence of consolidation or mass-like lesions. It is a common finding in a variety of interstitial lung diseases, including:

- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

- Sarcoidosis

- Non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP)

- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

- Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP)

- Organising pneumonia (OP)

- Drug-induced lung injury

- Radiation pneumonitis

- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

The term "ground-glass" refers to the hazy, opacified appearance of the affected areas on CT scans, which resembles ground glass. This is due to an increase in the density of the lung tissue, caused by the presence of fluid or cellular infiltrates within the interstitial space of the lung.

Clinical presentation

The clinical presentation of ground-glass interstitial disease of the lung can vary depending on the underlying cause. Some common symptoms include:

- Shortness of breath

- Cough

- Fatigue

- Chest pain

- Weight loss

- Crackles on auscultation of the lungs

Treatment

The treatment for ground-glass interstitial disease of the lung depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, treatment may not be necessary if the disease is mild and does not cause any symptoms. In other cases, treatment may involve medications, oxygen therapy, or lung transplant.