Nikunj C. Desai1, Nilesh P. Parkar2, Asutosh N. Dave3
BACKGROUND
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an unpredictable diffuse parenchymal lung
disease, which involves interstitium of lung (tissue around the alveoli of the lungs).
High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is one of the confirmatory, easily
accessible methodology for the conclusion and follow up assessment of interstitial
lung disease. We wanted to study the normal HRCT patterns found with interstitial
lung disease and contrastingly different HRCT designs and clinical information in
differential determination of pulmonary fibrosis. We also wanted to study the
different patterns of interstitial lung disease on high resolution computed
tomography and thereby provide accurate diagnosis and management to the
patients.
METHODS
The study was a hospital based prospective, cross sectional study. In the present
study, total fifty patients referred from Department of Medicine and Department
of Pulmonary Medicine of GCS Medical College having suspicion of interstitial lung
disease were studied from April 2019 to September 2019. All patients underwent
HRCT thorax on 16 slice Siemens computerised tomography (CT) scan machine in
recumbent position utilising usual HRCT protocol. Lung abnormalities were noticed
and classified for explicit diagnosis of interstitial lung pathologies.
RESULTS
Most of the patients (N = 25) were found to be in the age group of 50 - 80 years
(17 female & 8 male). Progressive dyspnoea (N = 47; 94 %) was the most
common chief complaint. The most common form of interstitial lung disease was
usual interstitial pneumonia (UIN) (N = 18; 36 %) in our study. Acute interstitial
pneumonia (AIP) (N = 7; 14 %) and non-specific interstitial pneumonia, NSIP (N
= 7; 14 %) were the next common interstitial lung diseases.
CONCLUSIONS
The most well-known interstitial lung disease seen in our examination was usual
interstitial pneumonia. Cases of interstitial lung disease are on the rise. Interstitial
lung disease should be ruled out in all patients with progressive dyspnoea,
particularly when there are no obvious or known causes of dyspnoea. Clinical and
laboratory findings, pulmonary function tests, history of exposure along with HRCT
workup is indispensable for the identification or exclusion of interstitial lung
disease. HRCT is also useful for the follow-up study.
