Highhyphen;Resolution Computed Tomography of Interstitial Lung Disease

摘要

Since its development nearly 15 years ago, high-resolution CT (HRCT) has proven indispensable in the clinical evaluation of chronic interstitial lung disease. In addition to the specific characterization of interstitial processes, HRCT is helpful in the detection of parenchymal disease in symptomatic patients with normal chest radiographs. Findings on HRCT help guide diagnostic tissue sampling with transbronchial biopsy or videoassisted thoracoscopic surgical biopsy by localizing sites of active inflammation. Additional uses of HRCT include assessing the response to immunosuppressive therapy and detecting complications of disease. The present article briefly describes the indications and technique of HRCT in the evaluation of Interstitial lung disease, with a review of the characteristic findings in some of the more commonly encountered entities.