Fibrosing alveolitis: chest radiography and CT as predictors of clinical and functional impairment at follow-up in 26 patients.

Findings on the original and follow-up chest radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) scans were correlated with clinical and functional parameters in 26 patients with fibrosing alveolitis. Assessment of chest radiographs included determination of a standard profusion score and an average profusion score. The CT assessment included pattern, extent, and distribution of disease. The standard profusion score showed no significant correlation with clinical or functional parameters (P greater than .05). However, the average profusion score of the six lung zones correlated with severity of dyspnea and with static lung volumes (P less than .01). Extent of irregular linear opacities on CT scans correlated with severity of dyspnea and impairment in gas transfer (carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity) (P less than .01). The profusion of ground-glass opacities on the radiograph showed no significant correlations (P greater than .05). The profusion and extent of ground-glass opacities on CT scans correlated with severity of dyspnea, impairment in gas transfer, and reduction in static lung volumes (P less than .01). Ground-glass opacities on CT scans preceded and predicted the development of irregular linear opacities on follow-up CT scans and correlated with an increase in the average profusion score of the chest radiograph (P less than .01).