[Exogenous allergic alveolitis--a clinico-radiologic analysis of 15 cases of pigeon breeder's lung].

A clinico-radiologic analysis of 15 cases with exogenous allergic alveolitis in pigeon breeders was reported. There were 4 male and 11 female. The age ranged from 15-68 years, averaging 33.5 years. All cases had history of intimate contact with pigeons. The clinical manifestations were dry cough, dyspnea and Velcro's rales at the base of the lung. The X-ray appearances included increased, coarsened, tortuous and hazy lung markings, reticular shadows, ground glass appearance due to decreased lung lucency, patchy shadows and honeycombed areas of lucency etc. These findings however were nonspecific, and must be differentiated from other diseases. Therefore X-ray signs must be closely correlated with clinical picture before making the diagnosis.