Polmonite organizzativa criptogenetica: L'essenziale da sapere

Organizing pneumonia (OP) represents a lung reaction that can occur in response to different causes (OPreaction pattern) and that develops within distal small airways and alveolar spaces. OP may be secondary to several conditions or idiopathic. Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia (COP) is the idiopathic form and is included in the ATS/ERS International Consensus Classification of the Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias due to idiopathic nature and the clinical, physiopathological and imaging findings overlap with other interstitial pneumonias. The term COP is preferred to Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia (BOOP) because bronchiolitis obliterans may sometimes be absent. The clinical and radiographic presentation of COP often mimics that of community acquired pneumonia. Common imaging findings consist of multiple, bilateral and peripheral consolidative opacities associated to areas of ground glass. There are also atypical HRTC patterns of this disease. Histological pattern of OP is characterized by plugs of lax connective tissue within the terminal or respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts and the alveoli. The prognosis is generally good with corticosteroid therapy. In rare cases the disease may present with rapidly progressive respiratory failure. Relapses are frequent.