Pulmonary fibrosis causes, types, diagnosis and treatment

This article is to discuss lung fibrosis regarding its known types , aetiology, clinical picture (manifestations), investigations and management .
Types of pulmonary fibrosis

1• Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis .
2• Parenchymatous pulmonary fibrosis .

Etiology ( Causes of pulmonary fibrosis ):

TB - lung abscess - Bronchiectasis - Empyema

Clinical picture
Pulmonary fibrosis (parenchymatous)
1- Manifestations of the cause or past history of TB - lung abscess - Bronchiectasis - Empyema
2- Dyspnea, chronic dry cough .
3- Cyanosis (In advanced stage)

Local examination

(The affected side showing multiple negative signs):
• Inspection : Diminished movement, retraction.

• Palpation : TVF Low, diminished chest expansion, trachea deviated to the same side of the lesion.

TVF is High with Marked tracheal shift to the same side

• Percussion : Dullness, if the fibrosis is left sided it does not affect the traube's area (resonant traube's area), to be differentiated
from left sided pleural effusion.

• Auscultation : Diminished Air entery - or diminished intensity of breath sounds, coarse non consonating crepitations .

Investigations
* X-ray shows :
Crowded ribs, trachea shifted to the same side , Heterogenous opacity, Tenting of diaphragm
* Pulmonary function tests showing restrictive hypoventilation.
Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis

Source : Pulmonary fibrosis causes, types, diagnosis and treatment