D. Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
ILD encompasses a diverse group of disorders characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the lung parenchyma, resulting in progressive dyspnea, cough, and impaired gas exchange. Patients may present with constitutional symptoms such as fever and weight loss, particularly in cases of more aggressive or advanced disease. Hemoptysis can occur in ILD, though it is less common compared to other pulmonary conditions (18).
On imaging, ILD typically manifests as reticular opacities, ground-glass opacities, or honeycombing on CT scan, reflecting interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. Consolidations may also be present, particularly in cases of acute exacerbation or superimposed infection (19).
The presence of chronic symptoms such as hemoptysis, fever, pleuritic chest pain, and weight loss, in conjunction with radiological evidence of consolidations and other interstitial changes, raises suspicion for underlying ILD. The chronicity and progressive nature of the symptoms over time are consistent with the natural history of ILD, which often presents insidiously and worsens gradually (18).
Diagnosis of ILD typically involves a combination of clinical assessment, high-resolution CT imaging, pulmonary function tests, and sometimes, biopsy for histopathological evaluation. In the context of chronic symptoms such as hemoptysis, fever, pleuritic chest pain, weight loss, and pulmonary consolidations, interstitial lung disease (ILD) emerges as a significant consideration (20).