[Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: correlation between helical CT findings and pulmonary function test results].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the correlation between helical CT findings and pulmonary function test (PFT) results from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF).


METHODS
Helical CT scan was performed in 32 cases with clinically and/or pathologically proved idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary function test for each patient was performed within 5 days before or after CT scan. The correlation between CT findings and pulmonary function test results was assessed.


RESULTS
Pulmonary function test revealed characteristic restrictive ventilatory defect with reduction of total lung capacity, residual volume, vital capacity, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. The patients with different severities of pulmonary function impairment had different CT features. 4 of 5 cases with slight impairment of the pulmonary function had the ground-glass opacity, 11 cases with moderate impairment showed the thickened interlobular septa (11/11, 100%), thickened lobular interstitium (9/11, 82%), distorted lobular structures (11/11, 100%) and thickened bronchovascular bundles (10/11, 91%). 16 cases with marked impairment showed the honeycombing (16/16, 100%) and the traction bronchiectasis (9/16, 55%).


CONCLUSIONS
CT can provide significant information for the assessment of the pathologic severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. There is good correlation between CT findings and pulmonary function test results. CT combined with pulmonary function test can predict the progression, long term survival and response to therapy.
Chen
Nan
N
Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yang
Zhi-gang
ZG
Yu
Jian-qun
JQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014109:Total Lung Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology