[Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases : A pattern-based approach to diagnosis]

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Pulmonology
• Radiology
• Immunology

Context:

• Connective tissue diseases (CTD) are systemic autoimmune disorders with frequent pulmonary manifestations.
• Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in CTD patients.
• Early detection and multidisciplinary management are crucial for CTD-ILD.

Purpose:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of pulmonary manifestations in CTD, focusing on ILD.
• To highlight the role of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in recognizing ILD patterns.
• To enhance radiologists' familiarity with the spectrum of HRCT imaging findings in CTD-ILD.

Summary:

• CTD-ILD presents with diverse HRCT patterns, including nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), organizing pneumonia (OP), lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP), and diffuse alveolar damage (DAD).
• Each pattern can be associated with specific CTDs, but overlap and transitions between patterns are common.
• HRCT is essential for diagnosing ILD, monitoring disease progression, and guiding management strategies in CTD.

Impact:

• Improved diagnostic accuracy for CTD-ILD through pattern recognition on HRCT.
• Enhanced understanding of the heterogeneous pulmonary manifestations of CTD.
• Facilitation of timely and appropriate patient management, potentially improving outcomes.