Title : High resolution CT as a key diagnostic tool in rare interstitial lung diseases: Imaging patterns and clinical correlation from a single center experience
Abstract:
Rare interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of diffuse parenchymal disorders with overlapping clinical presentations, making diagnosis challenging. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has become a central noninvasive tool for early detection and characterization of these uncommon entities. We conducted a retrospective review of confirmed cases of rare ILDs at the University Clinic of Pulmonology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Skopje. HRCT findings were analyzed with emphasis on imaging patterns, lesion distribution, and distinctive radiologic features, and correlated with clinical data.
HRCT revealed characteristic disease-specific patterns that improved diagnostic confidence. These included bizarre-shaped cysts in pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH), diffuse thin-walled cysts in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), centrilobular nodules and air trapping in hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), non-segmental peripheral consolidations in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, and ground-glass opacities with septal thickening in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. HRCT enabled early recognition of subtle parenchymal abnormalities, guided further diagnostic procedures, and supported therapeutic decision-making. Recognition of characteristic HRCT patterns is essential for radiologists and pulmonologists to enhance diagnostic accuracy and optimize patient management in rare ILDs.
