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Incidental discovery of interstitial lung disease: diagnostic approach, surveillance and perspectives.
Incidental discovery of interstitial lung disease: diagnostic approach, surveillance and perspectives.
- Source :
-
European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society [Eur Respir Rev] 2022 Apr 13; Vol. 31 (164). Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Apr 13 (Print Publication: 2022). - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- The incidental discovery of pre-clinical interstitial lung disease (ILD) has led to the designation of interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA), a radiological entity defined as the incidental finding of computed tomography (CT) abnormalities affecting more than 5% of any lung zone. Two recent documents have redefined the borders of this entity and made the recommendation to monitor patients with ILA at risk of progression. In this narrative review, we will focus on some of the limits of the current approach, underlying the potential for progression to full-blown ILD of some patients with ILA and the numerous links between subpleural fibrotic ILA and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Considering the large prevalence of ILA in the general population (7%), restricting monitoring only to cases considered at risk of progression appears a reasonable approach. However, this suggestion should not prevent pulmonary physicians from pursuing an early diagnosis of ILD and timely treatment where appropriate. In cases of suspected ILD, whether found incidentally or not, the pulmonary physician is still required to make a correct ILD diagnosis according to current guidelines, and eventually treat the patient accordingly.<br />Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: S. Tomassetti declares consultancy and speaker's fees from Roche and Boehringer Ingelheim, outside this project. Conflict of interest: V. Poletti has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: C. Ravaglia has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: N. Sverzellati has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: S. Piciucchi has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: D. Cozzi has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: V. Luzzi has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: C. Comin has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: A.U. Wells has nothing to disclose.<br /> (Copyright ©The authors 2022.)
- Subjects :
- Disease Progression
Humans
Incidental Findings
Lung diagnostic imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis diagnostic imaging
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis epidemiology
Lung Diseases, Interstitial diagnosis
Lung Diseases, Interstitial epidemiology
Lung Diseases, Interstitial therapy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1600-0617
- Volume :
- 31
- Issue :
- 164
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35418487
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0206-2021