Clinical and radiological manifestations of pulmonary fibrosis

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease characterized by scarring of lung tissue, leading to impaired respiratory function. Accurate radiological assessment is crucial for diagnosis and management. Methods and Materials: This retrospective study included 750 patients diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. All patients underwent chest X-rays and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. Data on clinical features, smoking status, and radiological findings were collected and analyzed. Results: Among the studied patients, 75% were male and 25% female, with 83% being smokers. The main causes identified included sarcoidosis (25%), connective tissue diseases (23%), and chronic diseases (22%). Chest X-rays showed abnormalities in 60% of cases, while HRCT detected fibrosis signs in 100% of cases. The lower lobes were most commonly affected (75%), and high-resolution CT demonstrated superior sensitivity compared to standard CT. Complications such as pulmonary hypertension (30%) and fungal infections (45%) were also observed. Conclusion: High-resolution CT is the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary fibrosis, offering superior detection rates compared to standard imaging. Smoking remains a significant risk factor associated with disease severity.