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.

Lung metastases in metastatic gastric cancer: pattern of lung metastases and clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND: There are only limited data regarding pulmonary metastasis from gastric cancer. Therefore, we analyzed large series of gastric cancer with pulmonary metastasis and analyzed their clinical characteristics and treatment outcome to enhance perception of metastatic gastric cancer. METHODS: Of 20,187 advanced gastric cancer patients treated between 1995 and 2007, 193 (0.96%) were identified to have pulmonary metastasis from gastric cancer. The pulmonary lesions were detected at chest computed tomography (CT) scan or plain chest X-ray and/or abdominal pelvic CT scan covering the lower part of the lungs, and were divided into three patterns: lymphangitic, hematogenous, and pleural. RESULTS: The most frequently observed pattern of lung metastasis was hematogenous metastasis (52.3%) followed by pleural (35.2%) and lymphangitic (26.4%). Patients who had hematogenous pulmonary metastasis were significantly associated with hepatic metastasis (p = 0.004) and male sex (p = 0.012). Patients with lymphangitic metastasis were significantly associated with concomitant bone (p = 0.010) and bone marrow (p = 0.029) metastasis. In case of pleural metastasis, it was positively correlated with gastrectomy history (p = 0.015) and the presence of peritoneal metastasis (p = 0.020). After a median follow-up duration of 87 (9-162) months, the median survival after diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis was 4 (0-67) months. CONCLUSION: The most frequently observed pattern of lung metastasis was hematogenous metastasis (52.3%) followed by pleural (35.2%) and lymphangitic (26.4%) in gastric cancer patients. Among gastric cancer patients with lung metastases, patients with pleural metastasis or lymphangitic metastasis had shorter survival with 1.5-2-fold increased risk of deaths.