[Smoking-related interstitial lung disease : Radiological findings, histopathological correlations, and clinical observations].

Abstract

Clinical/methodological issue: Identifying smoking-related interstitial lung diseases (SRILD) in smokers is challenging, as clinical manifestations can be nonspecific, and there is a variety of SRILD entities that not only interconnect but can also overlap.

Radiological standard procedures: In diagnosing SRILD, imaging techniques such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) allow the identification of characteristic features, serving as crucial pieces of the puzzle for definitive differentiation.

Performance: Studies have demonstrated that HRCT exhibits a sensitivity of approximately 80-90% in identifying SRILD, with a specificity around 70-80%. The conclusive diagnosis often requires a correlation between histopathological findings and clinical observations.

Practical recommendations: Regular monitoring of smokers, especially when experiencing symptoms like shortness of breath and cough, coupled with a comprehensive diagnosis of SRILD, is crucial for accurate identification and individualized therapy.