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Functional-morphological relationships in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis

Department of Radiology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Green Lane Hospital, Green Lane, Auckland, New Zealand

Summary

• The relationships between the abnormal morphology of CFA and physiology are ideally investigated using CT; the extent and severity of different CT patterns may be quantified.
  
• The methods used for the quantification of CT patterns and the statistical tests employed in analysis are crucial
  
• In patients with CFA, the extent of lung involvement on CT is an important determinant of prognosis.
  
• The percent predicted DLco is the best single lung function parameter which reflects global disease extent. However, whether a combination of physiological indices would be better has not been established.
  
• The relationship between DLco and disease extent is perturbed by coexistent emphysema.