Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Giant cell pneumonia

    An interstitial pneumonitis of infancy and childhood. The lung tissue contains multinucleated giant cells. The disease often occurs in connection with measles.  

  • Fibrous pneumonia

    Pneumonia followed by formation of scar tissue.  

  • Eosinophilic pneumonia

    Infiltration of the lung by eosinophils, typically found in patients with peripheral eosinophilia. The cause is usually unknown; occasionally, the condition responds to the administration of corticosteroids. In some cases, a specific underlying cause is found, such as the recent initiation of cigarette smoking or an allergic drug reaction. Infection with some parasites or fungi…

  • Embolic pneumonia

    Pneumonia following embolization of a pulmonary blood vessel.  

  • Desquamative interstitial pneumonia

    Pneumonia of unknown cause, accompanied by cellular infiltration or fibrosis in the pulmonary interstitium. Progressive dyspnea and a nonproductive cough are symptoms characterizing this disease. Clubbing of the fingers is a common finding. Diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide is abnormal. Diagnosis is made by lung biopsy. The condition is treated by corticosteroids.  

  • Community-acquired pneumonia

    Pneumonia occurring in outpatients, often caused by infection with streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and atypical organisms such as Legionella species. Mortality is approximately 15% but depends on many host and pathogen features.  

  • Chlamydial pneumonia

    An atypical pneumonia caused by Chlamydia species, characterized clinically by cough, low-grade fever, sore throat, and malaise. A chest x-ray taken during the illness is more likely to show diffuse lung involvement than a lobar pneumonia.  

  • Atypical pneumonia

    Pneumonia caused by a virus or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The symptoms are low-grade fever, nonproductive cough, pharyngitis, myalgia, and minimal adventitious lung sounds.  

  • Pneumonia alba

    A pneumonia seen in stillborn infants; it is caused by congenital syphilis.  

  • Pneumomyelography

    An obsolete term for a radiographical study of the spinal canal following injection of air or other gas. Radiographic evaluation of the spinal canal following the injection of either air or oxygen.