Letter From the Guest Editor

Article Outline

• Copyright

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a difficult topic for radiologists, clinicians, and pathologists as this group of diseases is complex. Although the imaging findings of some diseases such as sarcoidosis and usual interstitial pneumonia have been well described, these clinicopathologic entities remain poorly understood.

In this issue of Seminars in Roentgenology, we discuss a variety of ILDs, their respective imaging findings, and the role of imaging in evaluating the patient with known or suspected ILD.

The issue opens with a detailed discussion of ILD from the pulmonologist's perspective. Dr. Chapman provides us with systematic approach to the patient with known or suspected ILD. He stresses the interaction among pulmonary physician, radiologist, and pathologist in the evaluation of these patients. All radiologists should recognize the importance of this dialogue when imaging patients with ILD.

Dr. Chapman's article is followed by my review of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. This group of clinicopathologic entities continues to evolve as research and experience further our understanding of their etiologies and natural histories. The current American Thoracic Society /European Respiratory Society 2001 Consensus Statement is reviewed, and the key imaging features of the various idiopathic interstitial pneumonias are illustrated.

ILD is a well-known complication of connective tissue disease, and it contributes to morbidity and mortality in afflicted patients. Moreover, ILD may be the first manifestation of a connective tissue disease. Drs. Silva and Müller provide us with an excellent review of this topic in their manuscript.

Another is an article on smoking-related ILD by lead author Dr. Chung. The role that cigarette smoking plays in development of ILD is becoming more apparent. As with the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, high-resolution computed tomography plays a central role in the diagnosis of smoking-related ILD.

Drs. Hoang and Nguyen provide a thorough overview of the imaging of sarcoidosis, a common disease, particularly in North America and Northern Europe. Lung involvement is frequent, and imaging plays a central role in diagnosis, monitoring of therapy, and identification of complications such as lung fibrosis.

Occupational lung disease continues to be the most common work-related illness in the United States despite increased awareness among workers, employers, and government regulatory bodies. This article, lead author Dr. Pipavath, reviews the spectrum of occupational lung injuries ranging from silicosis to chronic beryllium disease.

Finally, we present a Case of the Season: Ectopic parathyroid adenoma in the pericardium: a report of robotically assisted minimally invasive parathyroidectomy by Dr. Yadav and colleagues.

I would like to thank the authors for all of their hard work and dedication to this endeavor. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Jannette Collins, for the opportunity to serve as guest editor of this issue of Seminars in Roentgenology. I hope that after reviewing these articles, the reader will gain a better understanding of ILD and the role that imaging plays in evaluating these patients.