Title:Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis: AllA Radiologist Needs To Know
Volume: 12
Issue: 3
Author(s): Mandeep Kumar Garg, Madhurima Sharma, Ritesh Agarwal, Ashutosh N. Aggarwal, Pankaj Gupta, Kushaljit Singh Sodhi, Arunaloke Chakrabarty and Niranjan Khandelwal
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, Aspergillus fumigatus, bronchiectasis, HRCT, high
attenuation mucus, mucoid impaction.
Abstract: Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
(ABPA) is an immunological lung disorder occurring due to hypersensitivity
to fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Early diagnosis of ABPA is desirable
as the disease can cause irreversible damage and end stage lung disease.
Diagnosis of ABPA is based upon a set of clinical, serological and
radiological criteria. Radiology plays an important role in the diagnosis of
ABPA. However a radiologist should also be familiar with various clinical
and serological criteria, so as to have a complete understanding of the
disease process and to give a confident diagnosis.
Objective: To describe various clinical, laboratory and radiological findings in ABPA
with a comprehensive review of various diagnostic criteria.
Method: We searched the literature for various criteria that have been used for diagnosis
of ABPA. We also extensively reviewed the radiology literature to look for various imaging
findings described in ABPA. We searched the role of various imaging modalities used
in evaluation of ABPA starting with conventional radiography to computed tomography to
magnetic resonance imaging.
Results: In this article, we have reviewed clinical, serological and radiological aspects of
ABPA, with emphasis on the radiological findings. We have also described the various
diagnostic criteria of ABPA.
Conclusion: In recent years, role of radiology in ABPA has evolved. Radiology plays an
important role not only in diagnosis but also classification and prognostication of the disease.
A radiologist should also be familiar with the clinical spectrum and laboratory findings
of the disease.
