Respiratory System - Diffuse Lung Disease and Neoplasms Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, occupational lung diseases, neoplasms, vascular conditions, and pleural disorders as described in the lecture notes.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

A common and treatable lung disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation and tissue destruction, often associated with chronic inflammation from prolonged exposure to noxious particles or gases.

Chronic Bronchitis

A long-term inflammatory condition of the airways characterized by a persistent productive cough lasting at least 3 months per year for 2 consecutive years.

Dirty chest

A radiographic appearance on a chest radiograph demonstrating an increase in bronchovascular markings, commonly associated with chronic bronchitis or chronic asthma.

Emphysema

A progressive form of COPD characterized by airflow limitation resulting from alveolar damage, leading to the destruction of alveolar walls and lung over-inflation.

Bullae

Large air-filled sacs that result from lung over-inflation and alveolar wall destruction in patients with emphysema.

Barrel chest

A clinical manifestation of emphysema characterized by an increase in the anterior-posterior (AP) chest diameter.

Asthma

A chronic inflammatory respiratory condition characterized by intermittent airflow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, often presenting with dyspnea, cough, and wheezing.

Bronchiectasis

A chronic lung disease characterized by permanent widening of the bronchial airways resulting from the destruction of the elastic and muscular components of the bronchial wall.

Signet-ring sign

The hallmark sign of bronchiectasis on a CT scan, produced by multiple dilated bronchi.

Sarcoidosis

A multisystem disorder of unknown etiology characterized by noncaseating granulomas, frequently presenting with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and reticular opacities.

Donut sign

A radiographic finding on a CT scan where lymphadenopathy encircles the trachea, characteristic of sarcoidosis.

Pneumoconiosis

A group of occupational diseases, such as asbestosis and silicosis, caused by the accumulation of fine inhaled particles that lead to chronic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis.

Silicosis

The world's most prevalent occupational lung disease, caused by the inhalation of high concentrations of silicon dioxide (crystalline silica), leading to irreversible fibrosis.

Asbestosis

A chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, pathognomonically identified by calcifications of pleural plaques.

Anthracosis

Also known as Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis or Black Lung Disease, it is an occupational disease caused by overexposure to coal mine dust.

Solitary Pulmonary Nodule (SPN)

A round or oval area in the lung smaller than $3\,\text{cm}$ often discovered incidentally; more than half are benign, often showing popcorn calcification.

Popcorn calcification

Central densities seen on a chest X-ray that are characteristic of benign solitary pulmonary nodules.

Bronchial Adenoma

Rare, slow-growing tumors originating in the mucous glands and ducts of the bronchi and trachea, often associated with hemoptysis and recurring pneumonia.

Bronchogenic Carcinoma

Tumors originating in the lung parenchyma or within the bronchi, histologically divided into small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Adenocarcinoma

The most common primary lung cancer in the United States, typically occurring in the lung periphery and evolving from mucosal glands.

Pancoast syndrome

An extrathoracic effect of non-small cell lung cancer characterized by shoulder pain that may radiate to the forearm, scapula, or fingers.

Horner syndrome

An extrathoracic effect of lung cancer characterized by atrophy of the hand muscles or bony destruction.

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Obstruction of the pulmonary arteries by a blood clot that has traveled from another area, commonly originating as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Septic Embolism

A condition where an infected thrombus, often caused by infective endocarditis, detaches and travels through the bloodstream to obstruct a distant vessel.

Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula (PAVM)

A rare vascular anomaly characterized by abnormal communication between the pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein, leading to a pathological right-to-left shunt.

Atelectasis

Partial or complete collapse of the lung or a section of the lung, which can be obstructive (resorptive) or nonobstructive (compression).

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

A life-threatening condition characterized by non-compliant or 'stiff' lungs and fluid leakage into the alveoli, resulting in non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Mediastinal Emphysema (Pneumomediastinum)

A condition characterized by air in the mediastinum that has extravasated from the airways, lungs, or esophagus.

Spinnaker sign

The elevation of the thymus in pediatric patients, which is a radiographic finding of mediastinal emphysema.

Subcutaneous Emphysema

Infiltration of air in the subcutaneous layer of skin, characterized clinically by crepitation (a crackling sound) on palpation.

Pneumothorax

The accumulation of air between the parietal and visceral pleurae, which applies pressure on the lung and can cause it to collapse.

Visceral pleural line

The hallmark radiographic sign of a pneumothorax, outlined centrally by air in the lungs and peripherally by air in the pleural space.

Pleural Effusion

The abnormal accumulation of fluid within the pleural space, often characterized by a blunted costophrenic angle and the meniscus sign on imaging.

Thoracentesis

A procedure to remove fluid from the pleural cavity, often guided by ultrasound to manage pleural effusion.

Empyema

The presence of purulent fluid (pus) in the pleural space, often as a complication of bacterial pneumonia or chest trauma.

Thymus, Teratoma, Thyroid, Terrible Lymphoma

The four 'T's mnemonic for identifying common masses located in the anterior mediastinum.

Diaphragmatic Paralysis

A condition where the diaphragm loses the ability to contract, often demonstrated during fluoroscopy by paradoxical movement during a sniff test.

Eventration of the diaphragm

A localized elevation or bulging of the hemidiaphragm without a break in continuity, caused by a lack of muscle or nerve function.