There are a wide range of physical findings that may be seen depending upon the type of presentation, the histopathologic classification, and the stage (early or late) of the disease.

Acute: Physical findings often noted during the acute presentation may include tachypnea, fever, rales (crackles), rhonchi (rattles), and wheezes in moderate to severe respiratory distress. Initial episodes are almost always confused with an acute infectious pneumonia.

Subacute: Physical findings in those patients with the subacute presentation may include low grade fever, rales (crackles), rhonchi (rattles), and wheezes.

Insidious: The physical finding in the insidious-type presentation may be only fine basilar rales (crackles ) in the early stages of the disorder.

All presentations may progress, over varying time periods, into end-stage fibrosis of the lungs. Physical findings of these more advanced stages include diffuse rales (crackles), weight loss, clubbing of the fingers, and cardiac findings of right-sided heart failure.