Beyond Visual Interpretation: Quantitative Analysis and Artificial Intelligence in Interstitial Lung Disease Diagnosis “Expanding Horizons in Radiology”
Gaetano Rea,
Nicola Sverzellati,
Marialuisa Bocchino,
Roberta Lieto,
Gianluca Milanese,
Michele D’Alto,
Giorgio Bocchini,
Mauro Maniscalco,
Tullio Valente,
Giacomo Sica
Affiliations
Gaetano Rea
Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, 80131 Naples, Italy
Nicola Sverzellati
Section of Radiology, Unit of Surgical Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery (DiMeC), University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
Marialuisa Bocchino
Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Respiratory Diseases, University Federico II, Monaldi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, 80131 Naples, Italy
Roberta Lieto
Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, 80131 Naples, Italy
Gianluca Milanese
Section of Radiology, Unit of Surgical Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery (DiMeC), University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
Michele D’Alto
Department of Cardiology, University “L. Vanvitelli”—Monaldi Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giorgio Bocchini
Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, 80131 Naples, Italy
Mauro Maniscalco
Department of Pneumology Clinical and Scientific Institutes Maugeri IRCSS, 82037 Telese, Italy
Tullio Valente
Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giacomo Sica
Department of Radiology, Monaldi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, 80131 Naples, Italy
Diffuse lung disorders (DLDs) and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are pathological conditions affecting the lung parenchyma and interstitial network. There are approximately 200 different entities within this category. Radiologists play an increasingly important role in diagnosing and monitoring ILDs, as they can provide non-invasive, rapid, and repeatable assessments using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). HRCT offers a detailed view of the lung parenchyma, resembling a low-magnification anatomical preparation from a histological perspective. The intrinsic contrast provided by air in HRCT enables the identification of even the subtlest morphological changes in the lung tissue. By interpreting the findings observed on HRCT, radiologists can make a differential diagnosis and provide a pattern diagnosis in collaboration with the clinical and functional data. The use of quantitative software and artificial intelligence (AI) further enhances the analysis of ILDs, providing an objective and comprehensive evaluation. The integration of “meta-data” such as demographics, laboratory, genomic, metabolomic, and proteomic data through AI could lead to a more comprehensive clinical and instrumental profiling beyond the human eye’s capabilities.
