Rheumatoid lung disease

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Bronchoscopy

Respiratory system

Lung disease - rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatoid nodules

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Fever

• Joint swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Joint pain
• Skin nodules

The doctor may hear crackles when listening to the lungs with a stethoscope (auscultation). Or, the patient may have decreased breath sounds, a rubbing sound, or normal breath sounds.

The following tests may show problems consistent with rheumatoid lung disease:

• Chest x-ray
• CT scan of the chest
• Echocardiogram (may show pulmonary hypertension)
• Needle inserted into the fluid around the lung (thoracentesis)
• Bronchoscopic, video-assisted, or open lung biopsy

Review Date: 03/13/2007
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.