title: Diagnostic approach to the patient with diffuse lung disease.
abstract: Detecting diffuse lung infiltrates on chest radiography is a common clinical problem. Many diverse pathological processes can cause diffuse lung disease. The presentation of these diseases can vary from acute to chronic and includes a side array of radiological patterns that are optimally evaluated on high-resolution computed tomography of the chest. In diagnosing diffuse lung disease, it is helpful to focus on a few pivotal parameters to narrow the broad differential diagnosis. We describe the diagnostic approach to a patient with diffuse lung disease usingthe following key parameters: tempo of the pathological process, characteristics of the radiological pattern, and clinical context.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Jay H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Midthun
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Swensen
mesh_terms: D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*