Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: CT ability for primary detection and definition of stage

Abstract

The study was aimed to define criteria for early-stage diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and detection of pulmonary fibrosis at its advanced stage based on high resolution computed tomography data. Results of CT examination of 36 patients with histologically verified IPF were showed. The presence, type, extension and spread of CT characteristic signs of IPF at its various stages were analyzed. The thickening of the interlobular walls and ground glass attenuation were noted in 100% of the patients with early stage of the disease, even thickening of large bronchi walls and dilation of vascular shadows were in 44%. The fibrous stage was presented with features of the lung tissue disorganization, such as focal increased density of the lung parenchyma (41%), linear and/or reticular opacities (70%), air-filled cysts 2 to 20 mm in a diameter (77%), bronchiolectasis (44%), traction bronchiectasis (26%). All the changes were diffuse with prevalent location at subpleural medium and lower lung fields.
Thus, HRCT features of early and advanced IPF allow radiological and morphological correlations to discover regularities and occurring pathological disorders in the lung interstitial tissue.