Plain Film and HRCT Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease

Abstract

Diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILDs) comprise a huge number of diseases which diffusely involve the lung parenchyma. The DILDs have been subcategorized into (a) DILDs that have a known etiology, (b) the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, (c) the granulomatous DILDs, and (d) a group of diffuse lung diseases that include Langerhans cell histiocytosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis. HRCT plays a central role in the differential diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases. The differential diagnosis of HRCTs is based on the analysis of the predominant CT pattern, the ancillary CT findings, and the distribution of the findings. The final diagnosis of DILDs requires a combination of radiological, clinical, and sometimes pathological information, which is best accomplished in an interdisciplinary discussion.