REVIEW  HRCT OF THE CHEST IN ILD 

Journal of Radiological Review 2021 June;8(2):99-112

DOI: 10.23736/S2723-9284.21.00129-9

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Fibrotic lung diseases on HRCT: imaging and differential diagnosis

Elisa BARATELLA ¹ ✉, Cristina MARROCCHIO ¹, Chiara ROMEI ², Adele VALENTINI ³, Marco BUSSO ⁴, Roberta POLVEROSI ⁵, Anna Rita LARICI ^{6, 7}, Maria A. COVA ¹

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; ² Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Diagnostic Radiology 2, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; ³ Department of Radiology, I.R.C.C.S. Polyclinic San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy; ⁴ Department of Oncology, SCDU Radiodiagnostica, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy; ⁵ AFFIDEA-IDA, Padua, Italy; ⁶ Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Oncological Radiotherapy and Hematology - Diagnostic Imaging Area, “A. Gemelli” University Polyclinic Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy; ⁷ Department of Radiological and Hematological Sciences, Section of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome, Rome, Italy

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) represent a heterogeneous group of entities, some of them characterized by an excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, in particular collagen, associated with a progressive destruction of the lung parenchyma. Thig group of diseases includes both idiopathic and secondary conditions. Although the underlying causes are different, some fibrotic lung diseases show a similar chronic progressive behavior, independently of the underlying etiology. An accurate diagnosis is mandatory to guide management and treatment of patients with interstitial lung diseases, in particular those with a fibrotic pattern. Imaging, and in particular high-resolution CT, plays a central role, therefore it is fundamental that radiologists become familiar with these diseases and their presentations, in order to be able to provide one or a limited number of possible differential diagnosis.

KEY WORDS: Pulmonary fibrosis; Tomography, X-ray computed; Lung diseases; Diagnosis, differential