Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: CT features comparison with pathologic evidence of fibrosis and survival.

Purpose: To retrospectively compare in patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) the computed tomographic (CT) imaging features suggestive of fibrosis with pathologic evidence of fibrosis at surgical lung biopsy and to compare a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern at CT with survival. Materials and Methods: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained for this study, which was HIPAA compliant. Twenty-six patients (15 women, 11 men; age range, 37–76 years) with chronic HP had their surgical lung biopsy results reviewed by two pathologists for the presence of fibrosis. Two radiologists systematically reviewed the CT scans. The two radiologists were blinded to all clinical information, including pathologic diagnosis, patient information, and outcomes. The combination of a subpleural reticular pattern and lower zone predominance was considered a UIP pattern. CT findings were compared with the histopathologic presence of fibrosis, physiologic parameters, symptoms,...