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).