Zeitschrift für die gesamte innere Medizin und ihre Grenzgebiete
-
Pulmonary histiocytosis X is a histiocytic granulomatosis of yet unknown etiology and of partial immunopathogenesis. The incidence ist about 5% compared to sarcoidosis. Almost all patients are smokers, the age peak lies between 20 and 40 years. ⋯ The characteristic ring figures may be detected only by tomography. Until recently diagnosis was made exclusively by lung biopsy, but now bronchoalveolar lavage may be already diagnostic. Early corticosteroid therapy seems to prevent the progression to the fibrotic-bullous end-stage in almost all cases.