The first investigations of the utility of CT scanning in diffuse lung disease were undertaken in the mid-1980s, <sup>6Bergin C.J., Müller N.L. CT in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease AJR Am J Roentgenol 1985 ;  145 : 505-510

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 60Naidich D.P., Zerhouni E.A., Hutchins G.M., e al. Computed tomography of the pulmonary parenchyma. Part 1: Distal air-space disease J Thorac Imag 1985 ;  1 : 39-53 [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 104Zerhouni E.A., Naidich D.P., Stitik F.P., e al. Computed tomography of the pulmonary parenchyma. Part 2: Interstitial disease J Thorac Imag 1985 ;  1 : 54-64 [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> and with further technical refinements, the full potential of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has been realized. <sup>50Mayo J.R. High resolution computed tomography: Technical aspects Radiol Clin North Am 1991 ;  29 : 1043-1049

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 59Murata K., Khan A., Rojas K.A., e al. Optimization of computed tomography technique to demonstrate the fine structure of the lung Invest Radiol 1988 ;  23 : 170-175 [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> In the past 12 years, numerous HRCT/pathologic correlative studies have increased understanding of the fine detail provided by HRCT images, particularly in the perplexing conditions that are included in the term fibrosing alveolitis.

In the specific context of fibrosing lung disease, HRCT is increasingly used to detect early disease, when functional indices and plain chest radiography results are normal or equivocal. Comparative studies between the performance of HRCT and other noninvasive tests—particularly chest radiography—have repeatedly confirmed the superiority of HRCT for the diagnosis of fibrosing alveolitis, but caveats are necessary when considering such studies. By providing a precise assessment of disease pattern and extent, HRCT can provide information about the prognosis and reversibility in fibrosing lung disease. Further advantages of HRCT are the detection of complications and disorders associated with fibrosing alveolitis. In addition to the benefits that HRCT brings to the clinical management of patients with fibrosing alveolitis, new insights about the natural history and behavior of fibrosing alveolitis have been gained from recent HRCT studies.

For the purpose of this review, the term cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (synonymous with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) is used as the generic term that encompasses the various histopathologic subtypes (most frequently usual interstitial pneumonia). For clarity, occasional reference is made to the various subtypes that comprise the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias and readers wishing to acquaint themselves with the terminology that constitutes this confusing “alphabet soup” are referred to recent reviews. <sup>37Katzenstein A.L., Myers J.L. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Clinical relevance of pathologic classification Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1998 ;  157 : 1301-1315

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 52McAdams H.P., Rosado-de-Christenson M.L., Wehunt W.D., e al. The alphabet soup revisited: The chronic intersitial pneumonias in the 1990s Radiographics 1996 ;  16 : 1009-1033

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 56Müller N.L., Colby T.V. Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: High-resolution CT and histologic findings Radiographics 1997 ;  17 : 1016-1022

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup>