Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common fibrosing lung disease. It is associated with a very poor prognosis. Treatments can delay the progression of IPF, so early diagnosis is fundamental. Radiologists play a fundamental role in the evaluation and accurate diagnosis of IPF. Identifying the characteristic patterns of IPF on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is key in the process of multidisciplinary diagnosis, often obviating the need for surgical lung biopsies. This review describes and illustrates the clinical and imaging findings in IPF in the context of the most recent international guidelines, as well as the differential diagnosis and the role of HRCT in follow-up and assessment of complications.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Enfermedades pulmonares intersticiales; Fibrosis pulmonar idiopática; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Interstitial lung disease; Neumonía intersticial usual; Tomografía computarizada; Usual interstitial pneumonia.