Air trapping in lungs differentials (DDx): “BOAST CV”

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Air trapping in lungs differentials mnemonic

You’re reviewing a CT chest (inspiratory and expiratory) and you notice that patchy areas of lung refuse to deflate like the last balloons at a sad party. 🎈
Congratulations, you’ve spotted air trapping in lung fields — the classic radiological whisper that something’s gone rogue in the small airways.

But before we call it “just post-viral” and move on, let’s BOAST-CV our differentials like a well-read FCPS candidate with a solid grip on high-yield radiology.

🧠 Mnemonic Table: “BOAST CV”

Letter Cause Clinical Context
B Bronchiolitis (esp. Constrictive/Obliterative) Post-viral, post-transplant, or post-inhalation. The small airways said, “We’re done here.”
O Obliterative airway disease Seen in chronic graft rejection or after infections like adenovirus. Basically, your bronchioles just ghost you.
A Asthma Classic reversible airway obstruction. But during an attack? That air is going nowhere. 😤
S Sarcoidosis Granulomas clogging up the bronchial tree. Non-caseating drama.
T Tracheobronchomalacia / Toxic inhalation Think of those exposed to industrial smoke or prolonged ventilation. Airway walls become floppy like overcooked spaghetti. 🍝

 

👨‍⚕️ Clinical Vignette: The Case from Mashkel (Balochistan)

A 40-something truck driver from Mashkel, non-smoker, came in with worsening dyspnea post-COVID. CXR was normal-ish. CT inspiratory-expiratory series showed classic mosaic attenuation with air trapping.

Dr. Basit Khan looked at the report and said, “Welcome to the post-viral bronchiolitis club. We should start handing out loyalty cards.”
Bronchoscopy later confirmed constrictive bronchiolitis — and just like that, he became another long-COVID lung story.

Crucial tips

  • Expiratory CT is gold for air trapping. Don’t settle for a vanilla inspiratory scan. 🍦
  • In transplant patients (especially post-lung or post-BMT), air trapping = red flag for bronchiolitis obliterans.
  • In kids, especially with a recent viral illness + wheeze → suspect post-viral small airway disease.
  • Always correlate with PFTs: look for obstructive patterns, air trapping, and elevated residual volumes.

Happy learning, folks! 🙂

Dr. Aurangzaib Qambrani
MBBS, PLAB, MRCP-UK
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital, Quetta

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