High-resolution CT of parenchymal lung disease: precise correlation with histologic findings

Abstract

To provide a precise correlation between high-resolution computed tomographic (CT) findings and histologic studies of various parenchymal lung diseases, 20 fixed and inflated lungs were studied as follows: (a) Every lung was cut at the corresponding CT level into 1.5-mm-thick sections, (b) selected slices were cut into small blocks to prepare histologic slides, (c) each slide was photographed, and (d) the image of the entire lung section was reconstituted with the enlarged photographs (assembled as in a jigsaw puzzle). Results obtained in cases of normal lungs, pulmonary edema, alveolitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, emphysema, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, silicosis-asbestosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis demonstrated the method to be accurate in correlating high-resolution CT findings and the corresponding histologic data.