Honeycombing (lungs)
Updates to Article Attributes
Honeycombing refers tois a CT manifestation of diffuse imaging descriptor referring to clustered cystic air spaces (between 3-10 mm in diameter but occasionally as large as 2.5 cm) which are usually subpleural and basal in distribution. They can be subdivided into:pulmonary fibrosis (usual interstitial pneumonia). The Fleischner Society definition is
The walls of the cysts are well-defined and often thick (1-3 mm) 4.
Honeycombing is They represent an irreversible finding commonly seen in diffuse pulmonary fibrosis (usual interstitial lung diseasepneumonia and associated with a poor prognosis).
Pathology
Honeycombing consists of enlarged airspaces with thick fibrotic walls lined by bronchiolar epithelium and often filled with mucin and inflammatory cells 6.
History and etymology
The term “honeycomb lung” is thought to have originated in the 19th century in Germany and is thought to have first appeared in 1949 in a study by N Oswald and T Parkinson 5.
Differential diagnosis
-
airspace consolidation in the presence of pulmonary emphysema can mimic this appearance
. - in some situations, paraseptal emphysema and paracicatrical emphysema can also mimic honeycombing 3
See also
-<p><strong>Honeycombing</strong> refers to a CT manifestation of diffuse <a href="/articles/pulmonary-fibrosis">pulmonary fibrosis</a> (<a href="/articles/usual-interstitial-pneumonia">usual interstitial pneumonia</a>). The Fleischner Society definition is clustered cystic air spaces (between 3-10 mm in diameter but occasionally as large as 2.5 cm) which are usually subpleural and basal in distribution. The walls of the cysts are well-defined and often thick (1-3 mm) <sup>4</sup>. </p><p>Honeycombing is an irreversible finding in <a href="/articles/interstitial-lung-disease">interstitial lung disease</a> and associated with a poor prognosis.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Honeycombing consists of enlarged airspaces with thick fibrotic walls lined by bronchiolar epithelium and often filled with mucin and inflammatory cells <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>The term “honeycomb lung” is thought to have originated in the 19<sup>th </sup>century in Germany and is thought to have first appeared in 1949 in a study by <strong>N Oswald</strong> and <strong>T Parkinson</strong> <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>- +<p><strong>Honeycombing</strong> is a CT imaging descriptor referring to clustered cystic air spaces (between 3-10 mm in diameter but occasionally as large as 2.5 cm) which are usually subpleural and basal in distribution. They can be subdivided into:</p><ul>
-<a title="Air space consolidation" href="/articles/air-space-opacification-1">air space consolidation</a> in the presence of pulmonary emphysema can mimic this appearance.</li>-<li>in some situations, <a href="/articles/paraseptal-emphysema">paraseptal emphysema</a> and <a href="/articles/paracicatricial-emphysema">paracicatrical emphysema</a> can also mimic honeycombing <sup>3</sup>-</li>-</ul><h4>See also</h4><ul>-<li><a href="/articles/microcystic-honeycombing">microcystic honeycombing</a></li>- +<a href="/articles/microcystic-honeycombing">microcystic honeycombing</a>:</li>
- +</ul><p>The walls of the cysts are well-defined and often thick (1-3 mm) <sup>4</sup>. They represent an irreversible finding commonly seen in diffuse <a href="/articles/pulmonary-fibrosis">pulmonary fibrosis</a> (<a href="/articles/usual-interstitial-pneumonia">usual interstitial pneumonia</a>).</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Honeycombing consists of enlarged airspaces with thick fibrotic walls lined by bronchiolar epithelium and often filled with mucin and inflammatory cells <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>The term “honeycomb lung” is thought to have originated in the 19<sup>th </sup>century in Germany and is thought to have first appeared in 1949 in a study by <strong>N Oswald</strong> and <strong>T Parkinson</strong> <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/air-space-opacification-1">airspace consolidation</a> in the presence of pulmonary emphysema can mimic this appearance</li>
- +<li>in some situations, <a href="/articles/paraseptal-emphysema">paraseptal emphysema</a> and <a href="/articles/paracicatricial-emphysema">paracicatrical emphysema</a> can also mimic honeycombing <sup>3 </sup>
- +</li>