Perspectives in veterinary medicine: Description and classification of bronchiolar disorders in cats

Reinero, Carol R.; Masseau, Isabelle; Grobman, Megan; Vientos-Plotts, Aida; Williams, Kurt

Thoracic radiography is insensitive for diagnosis of small airway (bronchiolar) disease, likely contributing to the absence of its recognition in clinical practice. Thoracic radiographs in humans with bronchiolar disease may be normal or show nonspecific changes such as hyperinflation, nodules, and reticular to alveolar infiltates. 11, 21 In our experience, thoracic radiographs in cats with histologic evidence of bronchiolar disease can have bronchial or bronchointerstitial patterns (with or without bronchiectasis), patchy alveolar patterns, ill-defined nodular opacities, and hyperinflation or hypoinflation. The radiographic appearance of histologically confirmed bronchiolar disease in cats does not present as a single pathognomonic radiographic pattern, but is highly variable, reflecting the different diseases encompassed in the spectrum of bronchiolar disorders. Importantly, without clinical recognition of these disorders, bronchiolar disease is not considered as a differential diagnosis. In humans, HRCT has been instrumental in improving diagnosis of bronchiolar disorders, establishing them as important disease entities in pulmonary medicine.