A Cross-Sectional Study of Radiological Profile of Interstitial Lung Disease Using High Resolution Computed Tomography of Patients Attending Medical College at Ahmedabad

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. KEYWORDS Acute Interstitial Pneumonia (AIP), High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT), Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP), Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP)