Background: Diffuse lung diseases describe a heterogeneous group of disorders of the lower respiratory tract characterized by inflammation and derangement of the interstitium and loss of functional alveolar units. The disease is not restricted to the interstitium only, as it involves epithelial, endothelial and mesenchymal cells with the disease process extending into the alveoli, acini and bronchioles. Thus, the entire pulmonary parenchyma is involved. The objective of the study was to evaluate diffuse lung diseases by high resolution computed tomography of chest.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was done in 30 patients. Adult patients of either sex of age group 18 and above showing reticular opacities on chest X-ray and those patients who were incidentally diagnosed as cases of diffuse lung diseases on HRCT chest were included in present study.Results: Reticular opacities were the most common roentgenographic finding followed by reticulonodular opacities. On HRCT, intra and interlobular septal thickening was the most common finding in Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (usual interstitial pneumonia).Conclusions: High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is superior to the plain chest X-ray for early detection and confirmation of suspected diffuse lung diseases. In addition, HRCT allows better assessment of the extent and distribution of disease, and it is especially useful in the investigation of patients with a normal chest radiograph. Coexisting disease is often best recognized on HRCT scanning.
ROLE OF HIGH RESOLUTION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY CHEST (HRCT) IN SUSPECTED CASES OF PAEDIATRIC TUBERCULOSIS WHERE CHEST X-RAY IS NORMAL