his roommate’s pet parakeet
Hypersensitivity pneumonia can be classified as acute (< 1 month), subacute (1 month to 1 year), or chronic (> 1 year). Lung biopsy is rarely necessary, particularly if the diagnosis can be concluded based on the patient’s history of exposure. Biopsy of the lung may show signs of chronic bronchiolitis, including lymphocytic infiltrate in the airway interstitium and multinucleated giant cells, which may contain calcified Schaumann bodies. These are nonspecific findings.
References:
Johannson, Kerri A., et al. "A diagnostic model for chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis." Thorax (2016): thoraxjnl-2016.
Jose, Jaison, and Timothy J. Craig. "Hypersensitivity pneumonitis." Allergy and Asthma. Springer International Publishing, 2016. 311-331.