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Updated: Feb 12, 2026
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
CT features of diffuse lung disease in infancy
Paolo Toma1, Aurelio Secinaro1, Oliviero Sacco2
1Department of Imaging, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD) encompasses rare infant lung conditions. This review details CT imaging patterns to aid diagnosis of these unique pediatric pulmonary disorders.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
Background:
- Diffuse lung disease in infancy presents unique challenges compared to older children and adults.
- Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD) encompasses a spectrum of rare pulmonary conditions affecting infants.
- These disorders can involve various lung structures beyond the interstitium, including air spaces, airways, and vasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the characteristic computed tomography (CT) imaging patterns observed in infants diagnosed with chILD.
- To correlate CT findings with specific chILD entities to improve diagnostic accuracy.
- To highlight the utility of chest CT in evaluating and potentially diagnosing rare infant lung diseases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of chest CT imaging studies in a cohort of infants with diagnosed chILD.
- Analysis of CT findings, categorizing patterns of lung involvement.
- Correlation of imaging patterns with etiological categories of chILD.
Main Results:
- CT imaging plays a crucial role in evaluating chILD, with some patterns being specific for certain conditions.
- Nonspecific CT findings can still guide further diagnostic investigations.
- Despite its importance, chILD disorders are often challenging to recognize on imaging due to their rarity.
Conclusions:
- Chest CT is indispensable for the evaluation of chILD in infants.
- Understanding specific CT patterns can aid in diagnosis and potentially obviate the need for further testing.
- Further research and awareness are needed to improve the recognition of these rare pediatric lung diseases on imaging.
Abstract:
Diffuse lung disease in infancy includes a wide range of very rare and peculiar pulmonary conditions usually not seen in older children, in whom diffuse lung disease has much greater overlap with adult disorders. The acronym chILD (childhood Interstitial Lung Disease) commonly defines these disorders, although air spaces, airways, alveolar epithelium, vasculature, pleura, and pleural spaces can also be involved, besides the pulmonary interstitium. chILD can be caused by diffuse developmental disorders, alveolar growth abnormalities, surfactant dysfunction disorders, and other specific conditions of poorly understood etiology. Chest CT imaging studies play a pivotal role in the evaluation of chILD. In some conditions CT findings can be specific, and thus make it possible avoiding further testing. In other disorders, findings are nonspecific, although they may suggest a diagnostic pattern and guide further testing. Nevertheless, chILD disorders often remain unrecognized on imaging studies, as they are very rare. The aim of this article is to review the CT patterns of lung involvement in a series of infants with chILD.
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