Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia: clinical and radiological features, treatment outcomes of 17 patients, and review of the literature

Abstract We evaluated patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) who attended our clinic. We retrospectively investigated the clinical and radiological findings, diagnostic methods, treatment, and follow-up outcomes of 17 patients who had been histopathologically diagnosed with COP. The mean age of the patients was 49.8 ± 10.4 years. The most common symptom was cough (n = 15; 88.2%) and the most common radiological finding (n = 10) was consolidation in the inferior lobes on thoracic computed tomography. The diagnosis of COP was made by open lung biopsy in 11 (64.7%) patients, transbronchial biopsy in 5 (29.4%), and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery biopsy in 1 (5.9%). The mean follow-up period was 28.7 ± 25.0 (range: 3-85) months. Twelve patients received oral corticosteroid therapy and seven of them improved without any fibrotic changes. One patient refused treatment; a chest radiography of that patient was found to be normal at the end of the 20-month follow-up period. Three patients received no other therapy, as the lesion had been completely excised. Common symptoms included cough and dyspnea, while the main radiological presentation of COP was consolidation. Corticosteroids are a good treatment option in general, but relapse may occur.