High-resolution computed tomography in the diagnosis and follow-up of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

• Published in: Radiologia medica Vol. 115; no. 4; pp. 526 - 538
• Main Authors: Sverzellati, N., De Filippo, M., Bartalena, T., Piciucchi, S., Zompatori, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Italian
• Published: Milan Springer Milan 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Aged; Chest Radiology; Diagnostic Radiology; Female; Humans; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - diagnostic imaging; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - epidemiology; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - etiology; Imaging; Interventional Radiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neuroradiology; Radiologia Toracica; Radiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasound; Polmonite interstiziale usuale; Usual interstitial pneumonia; Complications; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Tomografia computerizzata ad alta risoluzione; Complicanze; High-resolution computed tomography; Fibrosi polmonare idiopatica
• ISSN: 0033-8362; 1826-6983
• DOI: 10.1007/s11547-010-0512-5

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common interstitial lung disease and is associated with a fatal prognosis. Familiarity with the typical appearances of IPF on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is important, as in the appropriate clinical setting, it is often sufficient for establishing a confident diagnosis of IPF without the need for surgical biopsy. Moreover, HRCT can provide important prognostic information in IPF. This is noteworthy, as the course of IPF is variable, and many patients develop complications leading to respiratory failure and death. The purpose of this paper is to review the progress made towards a better understanding of the HRCT patterns of IPF.