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Apr 4

Ground glass opacity: Causes, symptoms, and treatments – Medical News Today

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Ground glass opacity (GGO) refers to the hazy gray areas that can show up in CT scans or X-rays of the lungs. These gray areas indicate increased density inside the lungs.

The term comes from a technique in glassmaking during which the surface of the glass is blasted by sand. This technique gives the glass a hazy white or frosted appearance.

There are many potential causes of GGO, including infections, inflammation, and growths. One 2020 review also found that GGO was the most common anomaly among people with COVID-19-related pneumonia.

This article will look at what GGO is, some of its causes, and its treatment options.

GGO refers to gray areas that can show up in lung X-rays or CT scans.

Normally, the lungs appear black in X-ray and CT scans. This indicates that they are free of any visible blockages.

However, gray areas indicate increased density, meaning that something is partially filling the air spaces inside the lungs. This could be due to:

GGO can be due to many conditions. Sometimes, the cause is benign. Other times, it may be the temporary result of a short-term illness. However, it can also indicate a more serious or long-term condition.

There are several types of GGO. These include:

The shape, size, quantity, and location of opacities will vary depending on the cause. Some conditions cause only one type, but others may cause a mixture.

The sections below will look at some potential causes in more detail.

Infections are common causes of GGO. Such infections include:

Pneumonia is a serious infection in the lungs. It can result from viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Most often, it occurs as a result of a viral illness, such as influenza (flu), measles, or respiratory syncytial virus.

The symptoms can vary depending on the cause, but they typically include:

Most cases of viral pneumonia improve on their own. Fluids, rest, and oxygen therapy may help.

Doctors treat bacterial and fungal pneumonia with medications.

A 2020 review and meta-analysis found that just over 83% of people with COVID-19-related pneumonia had GGO.

Another 2020 study in 54 participants found that GGO most commonly showed up in the lower lobes of the lungs as round opacities, but that as the disease progressed, it became more patchy and affected all lobes.

The symptoms of COVID-19 can include any of the following:

If a person has symptoms that could indicate COVID-19, they should remain at home, self-isolate from others, and seek information from their local authority about getting tested.

Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms and what to do if they occur here.

Pneumonitis, or inflammation in the lungs, can occur if a person inhales:

Certain drugs can also cause pneumonitis and accompanying GGO. Typically, this type of pneumonitis occurs shortly after a person begins taking a new drug.

The symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis can include:

Other names for this condition include farmers lung and hot tub lung.

In the short term, doctors treat this condition by trying to identify and remove the trigger of a persons symptoms. The person may also require medications and oxygen therapy.

In the long term, the condition may cause chronic fatigue, weight loss, and irreversible scarring.

E-cigarettes and vaping devices contain nicotine concentrates, solvents, and other chemicals. These products can cause EVALI.

EVALI may cause numerous types of GGO, including crazy paving and reversed halo sign, to show up on a scan.

Vaping can also cause alveolar hemorrhage. There is more detail on this condition below.

Interstitial lung disease is an umbrella term that includes many different conditions. They all cause inflammation and scarring around the alveoli, lining of the lungs, and blood vessels.

These conditions could be due to an autoimmune disease, a connective tissue disorder, or toxin exposure.

The progression of interstitial lung disease varies from person to person depending on what caused it.

Symptoms vary from mild to severe. They may include:

Treatment aims to slow the progression of the condition. Doctors may use supplemental oxygen, anti-inflammatory drugs, or immunosuppressant drugs.

Pulmonary edema is the result of fluid collecting in the air spaces of the lungs. It can be due to several conditions, including heart failure and altitude sickness.

Symptoms include:

People with these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, as sudden pulmonary edema can be an emergency.

Alveolar hemorrhage occurs when the blood vessels in the lungs become damaged, leading to bleeding.

It is a medical emergency that can result from numerous conditions, including autoimmune diseases, vasculitis, and bleeding disorders.

The symptoms can vary widely and may include:

Doctors treat most cases of alveolar hemorrhage with steroids to reduce inflammation and immunosuppressants to stop the immune system from damaging the blood vessels further.

Sometimes, GGO nodules in the lung can indicate cancer.

Lung cancer may not have pronounced symptoms in the early stages of the condition. However, a person should speak with their doctor if they experience:

Treatment varies according to the severity and type of cancer a person has. It may include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.

After a doctor finds GGO in a CT scan or X-ray, they will take note of the size, shape, location, and distribution of the opacities to determine the likely cause.

They may also order more tests, such as:

They may also order electrocardiography and echocardiography to see if a persons lung problems could be the result of a heart condition.

Receiving test results can be worrying. Here are some questions that a person may wish to ask their doctor:

GGO can show up on an X-ray or CT scan of the lungs. It appears as hazy gray areas that can indicate a range of conditions.

Some causes of GGO may be benign and resolve on their own, while others may be chronic.

Read the rest here:
Ground glass opacity: Causes, symptoms, and treatments - Medical News Today

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