High resolution computed tomography in the evaluation of interstitial lung diseases: Imaging perspective revisited with review of literature

Aims and Objectives: The study was designed with a broad objective of studying the imaging findings of the common interstitial lung diseases and to assess the severity of the disease and determine the reversibility capability of the pulmonary parenchymal damage in ILD’s. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, observational study in which we evaluated 50 patients suspected of having interstitial lung diseases based on radiographic or clinical findings, by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) over a period of one year. Results: Out of the 50 patients, majority of them had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n=16) followed by interstitial pulmonary involvement in patients of rheumatoid arthritis (n=13), scleroderma (n=10) and systemic lupus erythematosis (n=9). The less common ILD’s included were Occupational lung disease (n=1) and Mycosis fungoides (n=1). Conclusion: HRCT of the lung in cases of the suspected interstitial lung diseases forms an invaluable tool for accurate and early identification and in conjunction with the clinical findings can obviate the need of lung biopsy in diagnosis of ILD’s