Table 1 The three clinical patterns of diffuse lung disease and their differential diagnosis
Acute (hours to several days)Subacute (weeks to several months)Chronic (many months to years)

  • Infection

  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

  • Related to rheumatic disease

  • Diffuse alveolar damage

  • Smoking-related disease

  • Related to drugs

  • Acute eosinophilic pneumonia

  • Sarcoidosis/berylliosis

  • Pneumoconioses

  • Acute injury related to drugs

  • Related to rheumatic disease

  • Smoking-related disease

  • Acute injury related to fumes and toxins

  • Related to drugs

  • Sarcoidosis/berylliosis

  • Acute injury related to rheumatic disease

  • Certain infections

  • Alveolar proteinosis

  • Vasculitis

  • Alveolar proteinosis

  • Small-airways disease

  • Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage

  • Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia

  • Amyloidosis

  • Acute exacerbation of chronic disease

  • Cryptogenic organising pneumonia

  • Usual interstitial pneumonia

  • Acute interstitial pneumonia (idiopathic)

  • Non-specific interstitial pneumonia

  • Non-specific interstitial pneumonia

  • Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia