Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2000; 21(2): 0135-0146
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-9840
Copyright © 2000 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia

Jean-François Cordier
  • Hôpital Cardiovasculaire et Pneumologique Louis Pradel, Université Claude Bernard, 69394 Lyon, France
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Publication History

Publication Date:
03 March 2004 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a pathological syndrome common to a variety of pulmonary inflammatory disorders. It is defined by the presence of buds of granulation tissue consisting of fibroblasts and collagen within the lumen of the distal airspaces. BOOP may be secondary to lung injury resulting especially from infection or drug toxicity or may develop in the context of connective tissue diseases or after lung or bone marrow transplantation. BOOP may also be idiopathic (and then preferentially called cryptogenic organizing pneumonia) and then is the hallmark of a distinct clinicoradiological syndrome of subacute pneumonia, with typical alveolar patchy and often migratory pulmonary opacities on imaging. Other imaging presentations consist of diffuse infiltrative opacities or focal pneumonia. Improvement with corticosteroids is usually spectacular, but relapses are common after stopping or while reducing treatment.