5-1-Ground glass pattern

1-Increased attenuation of the lung with preserved bronchovascular markings.

2-All patterns of diffuse pulmonary lesions start initially by ground glass pattern.

3-This is due to filling of the alveoli by fluid, blood, pus, lymph, living cells, dead cells or any other types of materials.

4-Then, ground glass pattern will proceed to interstitial type(54%), or alveolar type(14%), or mixed type(32%).

5-As we said previously, this is due to filling of the alveoli by

-Fluid---Pulmonary edema.

-Blood---Pulmonary trauma.

-Pus---Pneumonia.

-Living cells---Malignant neoplasm.

-Dead cells---Pulmonary infarction.

or any other types of materials.

6-The alveolar type will give rise to edema, pneumonia, hemorrhage...etc.

7-Special cases:

-Patient with AIDS, and when you do CT chest to him, you find a single small area of ground glass pattern=Pneumonitis carinii pneumonia.

-Patient with lung transplant, and when you do CT chest to him, you find a single small area of ground glass pattern=CMV or rejection.

-Solitary ground glass opacity:

Could be due to

*Broncho-alveolar edema.

*Broncho-alveolar carcinoma.

-Alveolar protenosis.