title: The comparison of high-resolution computed tomography findings in asbestosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine whether the HRCT findings are useful to differentiate asbestosis from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed HRCT scans from patients with asbestosis (n = 96) and IPF (n = 65). The frequencies and extent of parenchymal abnormalities and the frequencies of pleural changes were evaluated by consensus of two chest radiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference between IPF and asbestosis in pleural changes. In addition, there were significant differences between IPF and asbestosis in several parenchymal abnormalities on CT, especially in the less advanced stage of both diseases. On multivariate analysis, HRCT features that distinguished asbestosis from IPF were subpleural lines at a distance of less than 5 mm from the inner chest wall, subpleural dots and parenchymal bands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are significant differences between IPF and asbestosis in the parenchymal and pleural abnormalities on CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NHO Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center, Sakai, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akira
authors.affiliation: Department of the Relief for Asbestos Related Diseases, Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency, Kawasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morinaga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072356:Parenchymal Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: asbestosis; high-resolution CT; interstitial pulmonary fibrosis