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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
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Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Pulmonary MRI in Interstitial Lung Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Thiago de Gaultier Paulo1, João Martins da Fonseca2, Liana F Corrêa3
1Department of Radiology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging : JMRI
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Pulmonary MRI shows high accuracy for detecting interstitial lung disease (ILD), performing comparably to CT scans. Optimized ultrashort echo-time/zero echo-time protocols enhance diagnostic consistency for ILD evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a radiation-free method for evaluating interstitial lung disease (ILD).
- However, its diagnostic accuracy compared to computed tomography (CT) for ILD requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic performance of pulmonary MRI in detecting ILD.
- To identify key imaging features of ILD using MRI.
- To use CT as the reference standard for comparison.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 observational studies involving 959 participants.
- Included studies used MRI with field strengths from 0.55 to 3.0 T, employing various sequences like UTE/ZTE.
- Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated using a bivariate hierarchical model.
Main Results:
- Overall pooled sensitivity for ILD detection by MRI was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.84-0.95) and specificity was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.73-0.93).
- The summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) area under the curve (AUC) was 0.939.
- Subanalysis of ultrashort echo-time/zero echo-time thin-slice protocols showed improved performance with sensitivity of 0.93 and specificity of 0.92.
Conclusions:
- Pulmonary MRI demonstrates significant diagnostic capability for ILD detection.
- Performance varies by MRI protocol, with optimized UTE/ZTE thin-slice techniques yielding more consistent results.
- MRI is a promising alternative to CT for ILD assessment.
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