Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis: pattern of disease in the lung.

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Abstract
The distribution of disease was studied in 10 patients with histologically confirmed cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis by means of computed tomography of the lungs, Ga 67 uptake scintigraphy, and ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy. The findings of computed tomography and scintigraphy showed no correlation with the UICC/Cincinnati grades of the plain chest radiographs, even when these were supplemented with information from lateral and oblique chest films. Computed tomography showed subpleural shadowing in every patient except 1 who had responded well to corticosteroid treatment. Subpleural shadowing was commoner in the inferior and posterior parts of the lung lobes and was commonest in the posterior lower subpleural areas. The central lung showed 3 types of change-, a dense shadowing, which was sometimes associated with much increased Ga uptake; dilated smaller airways with small bullae, suggesting airway disease; and, gross bullous change.