Respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease refers to a form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia , or noninfectious pneumoniaare a class of diffuse lung diseases. Is a term used for a type of diffuse parenchymal lung disease , also called interstitial lung disease .There are seven distinct subtypes of IIP.-Histologic classification:Classification can be...

 associated with smoking.

It is a histological finding, not a pathological description. When associated with disease, it is known as "Respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease" or "RB-ILD".

The appearance is similar to Desquamative interstitial pneumonia

Desquamative interstitial pneumonia

Desquamative interstitial pneumonia is a form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia featuring elevated levels of macrophages.Its name is derived from the former belief that these macrophages were pneumocytes that had desquamated....

, and some have suggested that the two conditions are caused by the same processes.