CURRENT APPROACHES IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ORGANIZING PNEUMONIA

MAŞİDE ARI

Anatolian Current Medical Journal - 2025;7(1):89-93

Department of Pulmonology, Ankara Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye

 

Organizing pneumonia (OP), is a rare yet well-defined form of interstitial lung disease. The condition can be idiopathic, termed cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), or secondary to various causes, including infections, connective tissue diseases, medications, and malignancies. OP typically presents with nonspecific symptoms such as cough, dyspnea, fever, and weight loss, often mimicking other respiratory conditions like pneumonia or interstitial lung diseases. Radiological findings are varied but commonly include bilateral, patchy consolidations or ground-glass opacities with preserved lung volumes. Diagnosis often requires high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and may be confirmed by lung biopsy when clinical and imaging findings are inconclusive. Laboratory studies and bronchoalveolar lavage can aid in excluding alternative diagnoses. Glucocorticoids remain the mainstay of treatment, with most patients responding well to therapy. This review explores current advances in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and management of OP, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to optimize patient outcomes.