Patterns of bronchiectasis of the affected airways

• Cylindrical – Smooth tubular dilation of the bronchi
• Varicose (or fusiform) – Bronchi are dilated with multiple indentations (narrowed segments)
• Cystic (or saccular) – Dilated bronchi terminate in blind-ending sacs

Bronchiectatic disease tends to progress from cylindrical, to varicose, to cystic forms if the disease process is not interrupted. Cylindrical bronchiectasis may be reversible if the underlying cause is successfully treated, while later stages of bronchiectasis are generally irreversible but can still improve with optimal treatment.