Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease: CT Pattern Recognition and Differential Diagnosis

A practical radiology review of Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease: CT Pattern Recognition and Differential Diagnosis, focused on imaging findings, differential diagnosis, reporting...

RadPhrases Editorial TeamJuly 31, 20261 min read

Radiology workstation showing images from several modalities moving through a systematic review sequence into a report

A practical radiology review of Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease: CT Pattern Recognition and Differential Diagnosis, focused on imaging findings, differential diagnosis, reporting points, and high-yield teaching pearls.

Definition

4 cysts abnormal, >10 cysts = multicystic DCLD

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Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease: CT Pattern Recognition and Differential Diagnosis

Definition

Related calculators

Always exclude mimics first

Big 4 DCLDs You Must Know

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

CT

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD)

CT

Clinical clues

Rad pearl

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH)

Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (LIP) / FB

CT

RA / SLE

CVID / HIV

Treat underlying autoimmune disease

1. Confirm true cyst

2. Exclude mimics

3. Count cysts (paucicystic vs multicystic)

4. Assess

Pneumothorax & Lifestyle Pearls

Final Takeaway

If you see

Clinical use note

Apply the system with a ready-to-edit template

Definition

Related calculators

Continue learning

Always exclude mimics first

Big 4 DCLDs You Must Know

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

CT

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD)

CT

Clinical clues

Rad pearl

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH)

Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (LIP) / FB

CT

RA / SLE

CVID / HIV

Treat underlying autoimmune disease

1. Confirm true cyst

2. Exclude mimics

3. Count cysts (paucicystic vs multicystic)

4. Assess

Pneumothorax & Lifestyle Pearls

Final Takeaway

If you see

Clinical use note

Apply the system with a ready-to-edit template