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Bronchitis
This is the commonest form of COLD.
Pathophysiology: repeated airway infections, specific bacterial infection (eg. TB, atypical TB), fungal infection, smoking, pollutants and industrial inhalants, underlying immunosuppression or host suppressed states.
CXR Findings: Prominent, thick-walled bronchi, often giving the "tramtrack" or "railway tract" sign. The multiplicity of thick walled bronchi give the film an unkempt or busy appearance, hence the common descriptor of chronic bronchitis as the "dirty lung".
Chronic bronchitis is often seen with emphysema, as a mixed pattern.
"Aunt Sophies":
- mild, tubular bronchiectasis
- mild reticular interstitial patterns with fibrosis and bronchial crowding (eg. early IPF)
- chronic basilar pneumonia or aspiration pneumonia with fibrosis
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