Interstitial Lung Abnormalities in a CT Lung Cancer Screening Population: Prevalence and Progression Rate

摘要

Lung cancer screening trials involve performance of chest computed tomography (CT) imaging on current or former smokers who are at risk for primary lung malignancies. Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for lung cancer and is also associated with certain interstitial lung diseases, specifically respiratory bronchiolitis-interstitial lung disease, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and is considered a risk factor for development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/usual interstitial pneumonia. This study describes the prevalence of interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) detected on chest CT imaging performed within a single National Lung Screening Trial study site. Changes were defined as nondependent ground-glass opacification (GGO) affecting greater than 5% of any lung zone, nondependent reticulation, diffuse centrilobular abnormality with GGO, honeycombing, traction bronchiectasis, nonemphysematous cysts, or architectural distortion. Findings equivocal for ILA included focal or unilateral GGO, focal or unilateral reticulation, and patchy GGO (＜5% of the lung).