NONSPECIFIC INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONIA WITH FIBROSIS - HIGH-RESOLUTION CTAND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to describe high-resolution CT findings of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis and to c ompare findings seen on CT with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND MET HODS. High-resolution CT findings of biopsy-proven nonspecific interst itial pneumonia with fibrosis from 23 consecutive patients (one man an d 22 women) were analyzed retrospectively by two chest radiologists. C T findings were compared with pathologic findings. RESULTS. The predom inant high-resolution CT finding, seen in all patients, was bilateral patchy areas of ground-glass opacity with (35%) or without (65%) areas of consolidation. Irregular linear opacities (87%), thickening of bro nchovascular bundles (65%), and bronchial dilatation (52%) were also f requently seen. Honeycombing was not seen in any patient. All parenchy mal abnormalities showed subpleural predominance. Areas of ground-glas s opacity with or without irregular linear opacity or branchial dilata tion on CT corresponded pathologically to areas of interstitial thicke ning caused by varying degrees of interstitial inflammation and fibros is showing temporal uniformity. Areas of consolidation, seen at five b iopsy sites, represented the areas of bronchiolitis obliterans organiz ing pneumonia, foamy cell collections in alveolar spaces, or microscop ic honeycombing with mucin stasis. CONCLUSION. On high-resolution CT, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis is most commonly reve aled as patchy subpleural areas of ground-glass opacity mixed with irr egular linear opacity or bronchial dilatation. These areas represent i nterstitial thickening caused by varying degrees of interstitial infla mmation, fibrosis, or both.