Interstitial Lung Abnormality-Why Should I Care and What Should I Do About It?

Abstract

Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) are specific computed tomography (CT) findings that are potentially compatible with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients without clinical suspicion for disease. ILAs are associated with adverse clinical outcomes including increased mortality, imaging progression and lung function decline, and increased lung injury risk with lung cancer therapies. It is expected that identification of ILAs will increase with implementation of lung cancer screening and diagnostic CT imaging for workup of other pathologies. As such, radiologists will play a critical role in the diagnosis and management of ILAs.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA); Interstitial lung disease (ILD); Preclinical ILD; Pulmonary fibrosis.