Related Experiment Video For Desquamative interstitial pneumonia
Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
[Smoking-related interstitial lung diseases]
Sebastian Röhrich1, Benedikt H Heidinger2, Florian Prayer2
1Universitätsklinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Österreich. sebastian.roehrich@meduniwien.ac.at.
Clinical Issue:
Smoking-related interstitial lung diseases are a heterogeneous group of pulmonary abnormalities. The correct diagnosis has prognostic and therapeutic implications. This article introduces the most common smoking-related interstitial lung diseases and describes a structured approach to support the diagnostic workflow.
Practical Recommendations:
Computed tomography is pivotal in the diagnostic workflow of smoking-related interstitial lung diseases and may reduce the number of unnecessary lung biopsies. To achieve high diagnostic accuracy, a standardized scanning protocol, and a structured assessment approach should be utilized. During inflammatory stages of respiratory bronchiolitis (RB), respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung diseases (RB-ILD), and desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP), cessation of smoking as well as the use of steroids are the treatment of choice. In case of fibrotic changes (e.g., in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [IPF]), antifibrotic therapy with nintedanib and pirfenidone may be used. Patients with suspected smoking-related interstitial lung disease should be discussed in interdisciplinary board meetings.
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