Peribronchovascular interstitial thickening

The peribronchovascular interstitium is a strong connective tissue sheath enclosing the bronchi and hilar vessels, and extending from the level of the pulmonary hila into the peripheral lung. Thickening of the peribronchovascular interstitium is recognizable as an apparent thickening of the bronchial wall, and an apparent increase in size or nodular appearance of the pulmonary arteries. This term is generally used to describe interstitial thickening in relation to relatively large airways and pulmonary arteries. In a centrilobular location, peribronchovascular interstitial thickening is usually referred to as centrilobular interstitial thickening on HRCT, and is recognized by increased prominence of the centrilobular arteries or bronchioles.