Abstract

Background and Aims:
High-Resolution Computerized Tomography (HRCT) is the most powerful tool used to assess the lung parenchyma for diffused lung diseases, it has been accepted as the gold standard for early detection and diagnosis. HRCT of the lung is a key component of the multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis in diffuse lung disease (DLD). The aim of the study is to investigate the most common HRCT findings in clinically suspected cases of diffuse lung diseases, that cannot be determined from clinical history and other diagnostic tests, such as pulmonary function tests.

Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted in Jazan public hospitals (Abu Arish, Sabia, and Prince Mohmed Bin Nasir hospitals) CT scan department, in the period from October 2020 to June 2021. The sampling includes a CT report of 73 patients, with clinical suspicion of diffuse lung disease evaluated and analyzed. The data was collected by data collection sheet and analyzed using the SPSS version 23.

Results:
Mean age of the study sample was 52.97 years, 58.9% were male. Most common CT finding in patients with diffuse lung diseases was ground-glass appearance in (38.4%), followed by tree-in-bud opacity, and honeycombing, COVID-19 pneumonia and pleural effusion. A significant correlation was found between CT findings and type of diffuse lung diseases found, with (P- value< 0.01).

Conclusion:
HRCT findings in positive COVID-19 patients showed that; ground-glass opacity, was the common finding followed by crazy paving pattern, and diffuse alveolar damage, while, tree in bud opacity found in all cases who had pulmonary tuberculosis.

Key words: High-resolution computed tomography, interstitial lung disease, DLD, COVID-19 pneumonia, GGO, tree in bud opacity, honeycombing