Imaging of Pulmonary Fibrosis: An Update, From the AJR Special Series on Imaging of Fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis is recognized as occurring in association with a wide and increasing array of conditions, and it presents with a spectrum of chest CT appearances. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which corresponds histologically with usual interstitial pneumonia and represents the most common idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, is a chronic progressive fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) of unknown cause. Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) describes the radiologic development of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with ILD of a known or unknown cause other than IPF. The recognition of PPF impacts management of patients with ILD-for example, in guiding initiation of antifibrotic therapy. Interstitial lung abnormalities are an incidental CT finding in patients without suspected ILD and may represent an early intervenable form of pulmonary fibrosis. Traction bronchiectasis and/or bronchiolectasis, when detected in the setting of chronic fibrosis, is generally considered evidence of irreversible disease, and progression predicts worsening mortality risk. Awareness of the association between pulmonary fibrosis and connective tissue diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, is increasing. This review provides an update on the imaging of pulmonary fibrosis, with attention given to recent advances in disease understanding with relevance to radiologic practice. The essential role of a multidisciplinary approach to clinical and radiologic data is highlighted.

Air trapping in COVID-19 patients following hospital discharge: retrospective evaluation with paired inspiratory/expiratory thin-section CT.

OBJECTIVES: The study reports our experience with paired inspiration/expiration thin-section computed tomographic (CT) scans in the follow-up of COVID-19 patients with persistent respiratory symptoms. METHODS: From August 13, 2020, to May 31, 2021, 48 long-COVID patients with respiratory symptoms (27 men and 21 women; median age, 62.0 years; interquartile range: 54.0-69.0 years) underwent follow-up paired inspiration-expiration thin-section CT scans. Patient demographics, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit admission rate, and clinical and laboratory features of acute infection were also included. The scans were obtained on a median of 72.5 days after onset of symptoms (interquartile range: 58.5-86.5) and at least 30 days after hospital discharge. Thin-section CT findings included ground-glass opacity, mosaic attenuation pattern, consolidation, traction bronchiectasis, reticulation, parenchymal bands, bronchial wall thickening, and air trapping. We used a quantitative score to determine the degree of air trapping in the expiratory scans. RESULTS: Parenchymal abnormality was found in 50% (24/48) of patients and included air trapping (37/48, 77%), ground-glass opacities (19/48, 40%), reticulation (18/48, 38%), parenchymal bands (15/48, 31%), traction bronchiectasis (9/48, 19%), mosaic attenuation pattern (9/48, 19%), bronchial wall thickening (6/48, 13%), and consolidation (2/48, 4%). The absence of air trapping was observed in 11/48 (23%), mild air trapping in 20/48 (42%), moderate in 13/48 (27%), and severe in 4/48 (8%). Independent predictors of air trapping were, in decreasing order of importance, gender (p = 0.0085), and age (p = 0.0182). CONCLUSIONS: Our results, in a limited number of patients, suggest that follow-up with paired inspiratory/expiratory CT in long-COVID patients with persistent respiratory symptoms commonly displays air trapping. KEY POINTS: • Our experience indicates that paired inspiratory/expiratory CT in long-COVID patients with persistent respiratory symptoms commonly displays air trapping. • Iterative reconstruction and dose-reduction options are recommended for demonstrating air trapping in long-COVID patients.

Human Oncoviruses and Thoracic Tumors: Understanding the Imaging Findings.

Approximately 1.4 million virus-induced cancers occur annually, representing roughly 10% of the cancer burden worldwide. Seven oncogenic DNA and RNA viruses (ie, oncoviruses) are implicated in approximately 12%-25% of all human cancers owing to a variety of mechanisms as uncommon consequences of the normal viral life cycle. These seven well-recognized human oncoviruses are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human T-lymphotropic virus 1, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, HIV, human papilloma virus (HPV), and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Several viruses-namely, EBV, HPV, and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus or HHV-8-are increasingly being recognized as being related to HIV and/or AIDS, the growing number of transplant cases, and the use of immunosuppressive therapies. Infectious and inflammatory processes, and the accompanying lymphadenopathy, are great mimickers of human oncovirus-related tumors. Although it is often difficult to differentiate these entities, the associated clinical setting and radiologic findings may provide clues for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. Malignant lymphoid lesions are best evaluated with multidetector chest CT. The radiologic findings of these lesions are often nonspecific and are best interpreted in correlation with clinical data and histopathologic findings. ©RSNA, 2022.

Chest CT Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Drug-related Pneumonitis in Patients Receiving Molecular Targeting Agents and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Position Paper from the Fleischner Society.

Use of molecular targeting agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has increased the frequency and broadened the spectrum of lung toxicity, particularly in patients with cancer. The diagnosis of drug-related pneumonitis (DRP) is usually achieved by excluding other potential known causes. Awareness of the incidence and risk factors for DRP is becoming increasingly important. The severity of symptoms associated with DRP may range from mild or none to life-threatening with rapid progression to death. Imaging features of DRP should be assessed in consideration of the distribution of lung parenchymal abnormalities (radiologic pattern approach). The CT patterns reflect acute (diffuse alveolar damage) interstitial pneumonia and transient (simple pulmonary eosinophilia) lung abnormality, subacute interstitial disease (organizing pneumonia and hypersensitivity pneumonitis), and chronic interstitial disease (nonspecific interstitial pneumonia). A single drug can be associated with multiple radiologic patterns. Treatment of a patient suspected of having DRP generally consists of drug discontinuation, immunosuppressive therapy, or both, along with supportive measures eventually including supplemental oxygen and intensive care. In this position paper, the authors provide diagnostic criteria and management recommendations for DRP that should be of interest to radiologists, clinicians, clinical trialists, and trial sponsors, among others. This article is a simultaneous joint publication in Radiology and CHEST. The articles are identical except for stylistic changes in keeping with each journal's style. Either version may be used in citing this article. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license. Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Atypical Pneumonia: Definition, Causes, and Imaging Features.

Pneumonia is among the most common causes of death worldwide. The epidemiologic and clinical heterogeneity of pneumonia results in challenges in diagnosis and treatment. There is inconsistency in the definition of the group of microorganisms that cause "atypical pneumonia." Nevertheless, the use of this term in the medical and radiologic literature is common. Among the causes of community-acquired pneumonia, atypical bacteria are responsible for approximately 15% of cases. Zoonotic and nonzoonotic bacteria, as well as viruses, have been considered among the causes of atypical pneumonia in a patient who is immunocompetent and have been associated with major community outbreaks of respiratory infection, with relevant implications in public health policies. Considering the difficulty of isolating atypical microorganisms and the significant overlap in clinical manifestations, a targeted empirical therapy is not possible. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of atypical pneumonia, as in many cases its findings may first suggest the possibility of an atypical infection. Clarifying and unifying the definition of atypical pneumonia among the medical community, including radiologists, are of extreme importance. The prompt diagnosis and prevention of community spread of some atypical microorganisms can have a relevant impact on local, regional, and global health policies. ©RSNA, 2021.

Transbronchial cryobiopsy increases diagnostic confidence in interstitial lung disease: a prospective multicentre trial.

INTRODUCTION: The accurate diagnosis of individual interstitial lung diseases (ILD) is often challenging, but is a critical determinant of appropriate management. If a diagnosis cannot be made after multidisciplinary team discussion (MDTD), surgical lung biopsy is the current recommended tissue sampling technique according to the most recent guidelines. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has been proposed as an alternative to surgical lung biopsy. METHODS: This prospective, multicentre, international study analysed the impact of TBLC on the diagnostic assessment of 128 patients with suspected idiopathic interstitial pneumonia by a central MDTD board (two clinicians, two radiologists, two pathologists). The level of confidence for the first-choice diagnoses were evaluated in four steps, as follows: 1) clinicoradiological data alone; 2) addition of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) findings; 3) addition of TBLC interpretation; and 4) surgical lung biopsy findings (if available). We evaluated the contribution of TBLC to the formulation of a confident first-choice MDTD diagnosis. RESULTS: TBLC led to a significant increase in the percentage of cases with confident diagnoses or provisional diagnoses with high confidence (likelihood ≥70%) from 60.2% to 81.2%. In 32 out of 52 patients nondiagnostic after BAL, TBLC provided a diagnosis with a likelihood ≥70%. The percentage of confident diagnoses (likelihood ≥90%) increased from 22.7% after BAL to 53.9% after TBLC. Pneumothoraces occurred in 16.4% of patients, and moderate or severe bleeding in 15.7% of patients. No deaths were observed within 30 days. INTERPRETATION: TBLC increases diagnostic confidence in the majority of ILD patients with an uncertain noninvasive diagnosis, with manageable side-effects. These data support the integration of TBLC into the diagnostic algorithm for ILD.

Differentiating between Subsolid and Solid Pulmonary Nodules at CT: Inter- and Intraobserver Agreement between Experienced Thoracic Radiologists.

PURPOSE: To quantify the reproducibility and accuracy of experienced thoracic radiologists in differentiating between subsolid and solid pulmonary nodules at CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center approved this multicenter study. Six thoracic radiologists, with a mean of 21 years of experience in thoracic radiology (range, 17-22 years), selected images of 10 solid and 10 subsolid nodules to create a database of 120 nodules; this selection served as the reference standard. Each radiologist then interpreted 120 randomly ordered nodules in two different sessions that were separated by a minimum of 3 weeks. The radiologists classified whether or not each nodule was subsolid. Inter- and intraobserver agreement was assessed with a κ statistic. The number of correct classifications was calculated and correlated with nodule size by using Bland-Altman plots. The relationship between disagreement and nodule morphologic characteristics was analyzed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement (κ) was 0.619 (range, 0.469-0.745; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.576, 0.663) and 0.670 (range, 0.440-0.839; 95% CI: 0.608, 0.733) for interpretation sessions 1 and 2, respectively. Intraobserver agreement (κ) was 0.792 (95% CI: 0.750, 0.833). Averaged for interpretation sessions, correct classification was achieved by all radiologists for 58% (70 of 120) of nodules. Radiologists agreed with their initial determination (the reference standard) in 77% of cases (range, 45%-100%). Nodule size weakly correlated with correct classification (long axis: Spearman rank correlation coefficient, rs = 0.161 and P = .049; short axis: rs = 0.128 and P = .163). CONCLUSION: The reproducibility and accuracy of thoracic radiologists in classifying whether or not a nodule is subsolid varied in the retrospective study. This inconsistency may affect surveillance recommendations and prognostic determinations.

Diagnostic yield of transbronchial cryobiopsy in interstitial lung disease: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is required for evaluation in selected patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The diagnostic yield of histopathologic assessment is variable and is influenced by factors such as the size of samples and the presence of crush artefacts left by conventional biopsy forceps. We compared the diagnostic yield and safety of TBLB with cryoprobe sampling versus conventional forceps sampling. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial analysed data for 77 patients undergoing TBLB for evaluation of ILD; patients were assigned to either a conventional-forceps group or a cryoprobe group. Two pathologists assessed the tissue samples and agreed on histopathologic diagnoses. We also compared the duration of procedures, complications and sample-quality variables. RESULTS: The most frequent diagnosis observed in the cryoprobe group was non-specific interstitial pneumonia. Histopathologic diagnoses were identified in more cases in the cryoprobe group (74.4%) than in the conventional-forceps group (34.1%) (P < 0.001), and the diagnostic yield was higher in the cryoprobe group (51.3% vs 29.1% in the conventional forceps group; P = 0.038). A larger mean area of tissue was harvested by cryoprobe (14.7 ± 11 mm(2) ) than by conventional forceps (3.3 ± 4.1 mm(2)) (P < 0.001). More grade 2 bleeding (not statistically significant) occurred in the cryoprobe group (56.4%) than in the conventional-forceps group (34.2%). No differences in other complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: TBLB by cryoprobe is safe and potentially useful in the diagnosis of ILD. Larger multisite randomized trials are required to confirm the potential benefits of this procedure. Clinical trial registration at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01064609.

Different forms of pulmonary aspergillosis: A pictorial essay.

Pulmonary aspergillosis is a group of mycotic diseases affecting the lungs. The form of the disease mainly depends on the immune status of the patient and underlying conditions. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis usually affects immunocompromised patients - angio-invasive and airway-invasive forms are possible. Chronic aspergillosis usually appears in mildly immunosuppressed or immunocompetent patients with underlying structural lung changes and may have diverse forms: simple aspergilloma, chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis, chronic fibrosing pulmonary aspergillosis, subacute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, aspergillus nodules and endobronchial aspergilloma. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a hyper-reactivity reaction to Aspergillus species, and usually develops in asthma and cystic fibrosis patients. The aim of this article is to comprehensively overview different forms of aspergillosis, their symptoms and underlying conditions and to present imaging findings.

Diagnostic Value of Krebs von den Lungen (KL-6) for Interstitial Lung Disease: A European Prospective Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6) is a mucin-1 glycoprotein produced by type II pneumocytes. High levels of KL-6 in blood may be found in patients with lung fibrosis. In Asia this biomarker is used for diagnosis and prognosis in interstitial lung diseases (ILD). There is a lack of information regarding KL-6 cut-off point for diagnosis and prognosis in European population. The aim of this study was to establish the cut-off point for serum KL-6 associated with the presence of ILD in the Spanish population. METHODS: Prospective study including subjects who underwent chest HRCT, PFTs and autoimmune blood analysis. Two groups were created: non-ILD subjects and ILD patients. Serum KL-6 concentrations were measured using a Lumipulse KL-6 reagent assay and the optimal cut-off value was evaluated by a ROC analysis. Data on demographics and smoking history was also collected. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-nine patients were included, 102 with ILD. Median serum KL-6 values overall were 762U/mL, 1080 (±787)U/mL for the ILD group vs 340 (±152)U/mL for the non-ILD group (p<0.0001). The main radiological pattern was NSIP (43%). ROC analysis showed greater specificity (86%) and sensitivity (82%) for KL-6 465U/mL for detecting ILD patients. The multivariate logistic regression model pointed to the male sex, higher KL-6 values, lower FVC and low DLCO values as independent factors associated with ILD. CONCLUSION: Serum KL-6 values greater than 465U/mL have excellent sensitivity and specificity for detecting ILD in our Spanish cohort. Multicentre studies are needed to validate our results.

Interobserver variability in the CT assessment of honeycombing in the lungs.

PURPOSE: To quantify observer agreement and analyze causes of disagreement in identifying honeycombing at chest computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this multiinstitutional HIPAA-compliant retrospective study, and informed patient consent was not required. Five core study members scored 80 CT images with a five-point scale (5 = definitely yes to 1 = definitely no) to establish a reference standard for the identification of honeycombing. Forty-three observers from various subspecialties and geographic regions scored the CT images by using the same scoring system. Weighted κ values of honeycombing scores compared with the reference standard were analyzed to investigate intergroup differences. Images were divided into four groups to allow analysis of imaging features of cases in which there was disagreement: agreement on the presence of honeycombing, agreement on the absence of honeycombing, disagreement on the presence of honeycombing, and other (none of the preceding three groups applied). RESULTS: Agreement of scores of honeycombing presence by 43 observers with the reference standard was moderate (Cohen weighted κ values: 0.40-0.58). There were no significant differences in κ values among groups defined by either subspecialty or geographic region (Tukey-Kramer test, P = .38 to >.99). In 29% of cases, there was disagreement on identification of honeycombing. These cases included honeycombing mixed with traction bronchiectasis, large cysts, and superimposed pulmonary emphysema. CONCLUSION: Identification of honeycombing at CT is subjective, and disagreement is largely caused by conditions that mimic honeycombing.

Pulmonary Infections in People Living with HIV.

Despite the development of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) infections continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH). Pulmonary infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Staphylococcus aureus remain common. One-third of PLWH worldwide are infected with tuberculosis and the infection manifests at any stage of HIV infection. Fungal infection is usually confined to PLWH unaware of their HIV infection until immunosuppression is advanced or those choosing to discontinue cART. The importance of viral infections has diminished since wide availability of cART; however, mortality from COVID-19 in PLWH may remain greater than in the non-HIV population.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Complements Transbronchial Cryobiopsy Diagnosis in Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a technique classically used for the study of diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILDs). Given the recent advances in the diagnosis of DILD by transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBCB), it is relevant to assess what BAL can contribute to TBCB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study that included patients with DILD who, between 2013 and 2017, underwent BAL and TBCB in the same bronchoscopy intervention. We evaluated the complementary information provided by BAL to TBCB that facilitated the diagnosis by a multidisciplinary committee. Epidemiological, clinical, and functional variables and high-resolution chest tomography findings were recorded, along with complications associated with the procedures. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included. TBCB, conditioned by the underlying radiologic pattern, provided diagnostic information in 75% of cases. BAL provided complementary information that supported the diagnosis and treatment in 22% of cases. Differential BAL findings were related to microbiology, cell count, and immunology. Regarding the safety of the procedure, 47% of the patients experienced complications, although none were serious. CONCLUSION: BAL findings contribute to TBCB findings in the diagnosis of DILDs, with no serious complications associated with their combined use.

Management of progressive pulmonary fibrosis associated with connective tissue disease.

INTRODUCTION: Fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent and severe complication of connective tissue disease (CTD). AREAS COVERED: In this narrative review, we update the most relevant differential characteristics of fibrotic ILD associated with CTD (CTD-ILD) and propose a diagnostic and therapeutic approach based on a review of the articles published between 2002 and 2022 through PubMed. EXPERT OPINION: The subset of ILD, mainly the radiological/histological pattern and the degree of fibrotic component, usually determines the prognosis and therapeutic strategy for these patients. Some patients with CTD-ILD can develop progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) with severe deterioration of lung function, rapid progression to chronic respiratory failure, and high mortality. PPF has been described in many CTDs, mainly in systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and requires a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach to improve patient outcomes.

Mycobacterial infections in adults with haematological malignancies and haematopoietic stem cell transplants: guidelines from the 8th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia.

Mycobacterial infections, both tuberculosis and nontuberculous, are more common in patients with haematological malignancies and haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients than in the general population-although these infections remain rare. Mycobacterial infections pose both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The management of mycobacterial infections is particularly complicated for patients in haematology because of the many drug-drug interactions between antimycobacterial drugs and haematological and immunosuppressive treatments. The management of mycobacterial infections must also consider the effect of delaying haematological management. We surveyed the management practices for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in haematology centres in Europe. We then conducted a meticulous review of the literature on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of LTBI, tuberculosis, and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections among patients in haematology, and we formulated clinical guidelines according to standardised European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL) methods. In this Review, we summarise the available literature and the recommendations of ECIL 8 for managing mycobacterial infections in patients with haematological malignancies.

Different Faces of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis With Preserved Forced Vital Capacity.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is progressive and irreversible. Some discrepancies about IPF staging exists, especially in mild phases. Forced vital capacity (FVC) higher than 80% has been considered early or mild IPF even for the design of clinical trials. METHODS: Spanish multicentre, observational, retrospective study of IPF patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2016, based on the ATS/ERS criteria, which presented FVC greater or equal 80% at diagnosis. Clinical and demographic characteristics, lung function, radiological pattern, treatment, and follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: 225 IPF patients were included, 72.9% were men. The mean age was 69.5 years. The predominant high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) pattern was consistent usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (51.6%). 84.7% of patients presented respiratory symptoms (exertional dyspnea and/or cough) and 33.33% showed oxygen desaturation below 90% in the 6min walking test (6MWT). Anti-fibrotic treatment was initiated at diagnosis in 55.11% of patients. Median FVC was 89.6% (IQR 17) and 58.7% of patients had a decrease of diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) below 60% of theoretical value; most of them presented functional progression (61.4%) and higher mortality at 3 years (20.45%). A statistically significant correlation with the 3-years mortality was observed between DLCO <60% and consistent UIP radiological pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with preserved FVC but presenting UIP radiological pattern and moderate-severe DLCO decrease at diagnosis associate an increased risk of progression, death or lung transplantation. Therefore, in these cases, preserved FVC would not be representative of early or mild IPF.

Imaging of pulmonary viral pneumonia.

Imaging and clinical manifestations of viral pneumonia are protean and not reliably predictive of its origin. All patients with neutropenic fever and normal findings at chest radiography should undergo thin-section computed tomography to determine whether parenchyma abnormalities are present. Although the radiologic manifestations of viral pneumonia are nonspecific and difficult to differentiate from those of other infections, it is important to consider viral infection when confronted with a rapidly progressive pneumonia in patients with risk factors for infection. Although definitive diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of imaging features alone, the use of a combination of clinical and radiographic findings can substantially improve the accuracy of diagnosis in this disease.

Non-Infectious Granulomatous Lung Disease: Imaging Findings with Pathologic Correlation.

Non-infectious granulomatous lung disease represents a diverse group of disorders characterized by pulmonary opacities associated with granulomatous inflammation, a relatively nonspecific finding commonly encountered by pathologists. Some lesions may present a diagnostic challenge because of nonspecific imaging features; however, recognition of the various imaging manifestations of these disorders in conjunction with patients' clinical history, such as age, symptom onset and duration, immune status, and presence of asthma or cutaneous lesions, is imperative for narrowing the differential diagnosis and determining appropriate management of this rare group of disorders. In this pictorial review, we describe the pathologic findings of various non-infectious granulomatous lung diseases as well as the radiologic features and high-resolution computed tomography imaging features.

Early hospital readmission increases short and long - term mortality in patients with interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic impact of early readmission (30 days) on hospitalized patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). METHODS: Observational study analysing a cohort of patients hospitalized in a respiratory ward at a University Hospital. Demographic, clinical data and survival status were collected from patients' records. Early readmission was defined as hospitalization within 30 days after patient's discharge. The primary outcome was 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Between 2013 to 2016, a total of 2.238 patients were admitted to the respiratory ward and 98 (%) had a diagnosis of ILD. Among them, 74 patients were discharged (25% in-hospital mortality). Early readmission was observed in 15 cases (20.2%). Early readmitted patients were more frequently current smokers (20% vs. 2%, p=0.02). After a multivariate analysis, early readmission was found to be independently associated with 90-day and 1 year mortality (Odds Ratio (OR) 17.6, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 4.5-69-2, p=0.001 and OR 4.5; 95CI 1.3-15.2, p=0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients with ILD, early readmission after hospitalization increases both short-term and long term mortality. Thus, preventing early readmission after discharge from hospital admission may have an impact in the clinical course of ILD patients. Further studies are required to identify factors contributing to early readmission.

Chest CT Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Drug-Related Pneumonitis in Patients Receiving Molecular Targeting Agents and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Position Paper From the Fleischner Society.

Use of molecular targeting agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has increased the frequency and broadened the spectrum of lung toxicity, particularly in patients with cancer. The diagnosis of drug-related pneumonitis (DRP) is usually achieved by excluding other potential known causes. Awareness of the incidence and risk factors for DRP is becoming increasingly important. The severity of symptoms associated with DRP may range from mild or none to life-threatening with rapid progression to death. Imaging features of DRP should be assessed in consideration of the distribution of lung parenchymal abnormalities (radiologic pattern approach). The CT patterns reflect acute (diffuse alveolar damage) interstitial pneumonia and transient (simple pulmonary eosinophilia) lung abnormality, subacute interstitial disease (organizing pneumonia and hypersensitivity pneumonitis), and chronic interstitial disease (nonspecific interstitial pneumonia). A single drug can be associated with multiple radiologic patterns. Treatment of a patient suspected of having DRP generally consists of drug discontinuation, immunosuppressive therapy, or both, along with supportive measures eventually including supplemental oxygen and intensive care. In this position paper, the authors provide diagnostic criteria and management recommendations for DRP that should be of interest to radiologists, clinicians, clinical trialists, and trial sponsors, among others.