Is there any superiority among diagnostic methods in organizing pneumonia in terms of clinical features of the patients?

Figures & data

Figure 1 Thorax CT manifestations of organizing pneumonia cases. Consolidation (A), mass like lesion (B), ground glass opacity (C), cavity (D).

Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.

Figure 2 A foreign body tissue reaction against germinative membrane of probable hydatid cyst on histological examination of an excisional biopsy.

Notes: (A) There is a dense inflammatory reaction composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes in the lung parenchyma surrounding the lesion (100× H&E). (B) In another area of the same slide, there are Masson bodies filling the airspaces (100× H&E). (C) Bronchoscopic biopsy sample containing many Masson bodies (100× H&E).

Table 1 Comparison of clinical, radiological, and PFT findings between COP and SOP cases

	All OP (n=41)	COP (n=24)	SOP (n=17)	P-value
Symptom (%)
Shortness of breath	53.7	54.2	52.9	0.938
Cough	43.9	41.7	47.1	0.732
Chest pain	26.8	20.8	35.3	0.303
Weakness	17.1	29.2	0	0.014
Hemoptysis	9.8	8.3	11.8	1.000
Fever	7.3	4.2	11.8	0.357
Asymptomatic	9.8	12.5	5.9	0.482
Radiological findings (%)
GGO	43.9	54.2	29.4	0.116
Consolidation	43.9	50	35.3	0.350
Mass-like lesion	22	12.5	35.3	0.082
Nodule	9.8	8.3	11.8	0.715
Reticular pattern	4.9	8.3	0	0.222
Cyst	9.8	16.7	0	0.076
Micronodule	7.3	12.5	0	0.130
Cavity	12.2	8.3	17.6	0.369
PFT (mean ± SD)
FVC (L)	3.62 (±1.50)	3.31 (±1.74)	4.07 (±0.95)	0.368
FVC (%)	104.2 (±64.5)	112.9 (±83.0)	91.4 (±13.6)	0.904
FEV1 (L)	2.86 (±1.25)	2.68 (±1.37)	3.13 (±1.04)	0.512
FEV1 (%)	95.4 (±67.7)	102.6 (±86.2)	84.9 (±23.9)	0.753
FEV1/FVC	78.3 (±12.8)	79.9 (±9.1)	75.8 (±17.0)	1.000

Notes: Statistically significant results for P-values are shown in bold. The normality of the continuous variables was analyzed with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Shapiro–Wilks test. The Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U statistical tests were used for comparing the differences between the groups. Statistically significant P-values <0.05 are printed in bold.

Abbreviations: PFT, pulmonary function test; COP, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia; SOP, secondary organizing pneumonia; OP, organizing pneumonia; GGO, ground glass opacity; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second.

Table 2 Comparison of clinical, radiological, and PFT findings between cases diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy and by bronchoscopic biopsy

	All OP (n=41)	Bronchoscopic diagnosis (n=16)	Surgical diagnosis (n=25)	P-value
Symptom (%)
Shortness of breath	53.7	75.0	40.0	0.028
Cough	43.9	56.2	36.0	0.202
Chest pain	26.8	18.8	32.0	0.350
Weakness	17.1	31.2	8.0	0.054
Hemoptysis	9.8	0	16.0	0.092
Fever	7.3	12.5	4.0	0.308
Asymptomatic	2.4	6.2	0	0.206
Radiological findings (%)
GGO	43.9	75.0	24.0	0.001
Consolidation	43.9	68.8	28.0	0.010
Mass-like lesion	22.0	0	36.0	0.007
Nodule	9.8	6.2	12.0	0.545
Reticular pattern	4.9	6.2	4.0	0.744
Cyst	9.8	18.8	4.0	0.120
Micronodule	7.3	18.8	0	0.025
Cavity	12.2	0	20.0	0.056
PFT (mean ± SD)
FVC (L)	3.62 (±1.50)	3.49 (±1.16)	3.70 (±1.69)	0.359
FVC (%)	104.2 (±64.5)	98.4 (±12.4)	107.5 (±81.5)	0.243
FEV1 (L)	2.86 (±1.25)	2.89 (±0.82)	2.85 (±1.47)	0.749
FEV1 (%)	95.4 (±67.7)	86.3 (±27.3)	100.7 (±83.4)	0.749
FEV1/FVC	78.3 (±12.8)	81.9 (±9.87)	76.1 (±14.1)	0.473

Notes: Statistically significant results for P-values are shown in bold. The normality of the continuous variables was analyzed with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Shapiro–Wilks test. The Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U statistical tests were used for comparing the differences between the groups. Statistically significant P-values <0.05 are printed in bold.

Abbreviations: PFT, pulmonary function test; OP, organizing pneumonia; GGO, ground glass opacity; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second.

Table 3 Features of successful bronchoscopy group and failed bronchoscopy group

	OP cases underwent bronchoscopy			Radiological extent			Radiological finding
	COP	SOP	P-value	Focal	Diffuse	P-value	GGO	P-value	Mass-like lesion	P-value
Successful bronchoscopy group (n =16)
n	12	4	0.030	7	9	0.024	11	0.001	0	0.001
%	75	25		43.8	56.2		68.8		0
Failed bronchoscopy group (n =14)
n	5	9		13	1		1		7
%	35.7	64.3		92.9	7.1		7.1		50

Notes: Statistically significant results for P-values are shown in bold. The normality of the continuous variables was analyzed with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Shapiro–Wilks test. The Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U statistical tests were used for comparing the differences between the groups.

Abbreviations: OP, organizing pneumonia; COP, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia; SOP, secondary organizing pneumonia; GGO, ground glass opacity.