Follow-up HRCT Findings of Ground-Glass Attenuation in Usual Interstitial Pneumonia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in lesions, as shown by follow-up high-resolution CT (HRCT) in patients withusual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), and the significance of ground-glass attenuation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HRCTfindings in 23 patients with UIP were retrospectively reviewed. We quantitatively analysed the pattern and extentof lesions, as seen on HRCT, initially and during the most recent follow-up. We also compared pattern changesbetween group I (n=12; less than 25% of the initial extent of GGA) and group II (n=11, more than 26% of thisinitial extent). RESULTS: Initial HRCT findings included GGA and irregular linear density in all patients,honeycombing in 21 (91%), and consolidation in two patients (9%). During the most recent follow-up, HRCT showedthat the extent of GGA had decreased (p0.05). CONCLUSION: The greater extent of GGA, as seen on HRCT, of a patient with UIP shows much less fibrosison follow-up HRCT. In UIP, evaluation of the extent of GGA, as seen on initial HRCT, is a helpful indicator ofprognosis.