Step 1: The finger-in-glove sign is a radiological appearance of branching tubular or Y-shaped/V-shaped opacities produced by mucoid impaction within dilated bronchi - that is, a bronchocele (mucoid impaction of bronchi).
Step 2: A bronchocele forms when a bronchus is obstructed or dilated and fills with inspissated mucus. Causes include bronchial obstruction (hamartoma, lipoma, carcinoid, bronchogenic carcinoma, congenital atresia) and non-obstructive conditions such as asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and cystic fibrosis.
Step 3: Why the other options are wrong - Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis gives a crazy-paving pattern; Pneumocystis pneumonia gives bilateral perihilar ground-glass opacities; tuberculosis shows cavitation and upper-lobe fibronodular disease. None of these produces the gloved-finger mucoid impaction shadow.
Step 4: Hence the finger-in-glove sign indicates a bronchocele.