Computerized tomography of interstitial lung disease

Abstract

The most frequent manifestation of thoracic disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is interstitial lung disease. Up to two-thirds of patients develop scleroderma interstitial lung disease. High resolution CT (HRCT) scanning has emerged as a key method for evaluating lung involvement. CT in the setting of scleroderma interstitial lung disease (SILD) is used for detection, prediction of treatment response outcome assessment of treatment efficacy, and exclusion of other significant related or comorbid cardiothoracic disease. To detect an assess extent of lung involvement, semiquantitative visual and quantitative computer-based techniques can be used.