Table 1 Possible differential diagnosis of lung diseases in the current case history

Interstitial lung disease

Dyspnea, non-productive cough, malaise, fatigue, weight loss

X-ray – consolidation, fibrosis; HRCT – consolidation, fibrosis, ground glass partial alveolar filing, reticulonodular pattern.

Tuberculosis

Productive cough, malaise, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, hemoptysis

X-ray – infiltration, cavitation, nodularity, hilar/paratracheal lymphadenopathy, pleural effusion, atelectasis; HRCT – infiltration, granulomas and tree-in-bud appearance

Amiodarone-induced interstitial lung disease

Progressive shortness of breath (dyspnea), non-productive cough, malaise, fever, pleuritic chest pain

X-ray – consolidation, fibrosis; HRCT – diffuse interstitial pneumonitis with fibrosis and ‘ground-glass’ opacities, consolidation

Vasculitis

Fever, weight-loss, fatigue, evidence of multisystem involvement, rashes

X-ray – pneumonia-like x-ray picture; HRCT – bilateral perihilar or peripheral ground-glass opacities, pulmonary haemorrhage

Wegener’s granulomatosis

Necrotizing granulomatous lesions of respiratory tract, ulcers, malaise, fatigue, weight loss

HRCT – perihilar or peripherical ground-glass opacities, pulmonary haemorrhage, necrotizing granulomas

Lung tumor

Dyspnea, non-productive cough, malaise, fatigue, weight loss, hemoptysis

X-ray – nodule or mass with hilar enlargement, lobulated hilar mass, atelectasis; HRCT – solid or mixed pulmonary nodules or mass, atelectasis, lymphadenopathy

Bacterial lung infections

Fever, chills, productive cough, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, fatigue

X-ray – consolidation of the lobe, dense opacities, pneumothorax, hydrothorax; HRCT – centrilobular nodules, tree-in-bud pattern, pleural-based consolidation