COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN NONINFECTIOUS INTERSTITIAL PULMONARY-DISEASE

Computed tomography is a well-established imaging technique for the assessment of non-infectious interstitial pulmonary disease. Compared with the conventional chest radiograph it is characterized by a higher degree of sensitivity and specificity, particularly when a high-resolution technique is implemented. Because of its superior correlation with the morphological characteristics in specific diseases, it plays an important role if the histological diagnosis is doubtful and also in patients with clinical features suggestive of pulmonary disease in the presence of a normal chest film. This article describes the limitations of the conventional chest radiograph and the advantages of pulmonary computed tomography. Typical CT findings in different interstitial diseases are illustrated, and their value is discussed in comparison with the plain radiograph.