Cystic Interstitial Lung Diseases: A Pictorial Review and a Practical Guide for the Radiologist
Giulia Aquilina,
Daniele Carmelo Caltabiano,
Federica Galioto,
Giovanna Cancemi,
Fabio Pino,
Ada Vancheri,
Carlo Vancheri,
Pietro Valerio Foti,
Letizia Antonella Mauro,
Antonio Basile
Affiliations
Giulia Aquilina
Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”—Radiology Unit I. University hospital “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele” Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Daniele Carmelo Caltabiano
Department of Diagnostic Radiology “Umberto I” Hospital, Contrada Ferrante, 94100 Enna, Italy
Federica Galioto
Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”—Radiology Unit I. University hospital “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele” Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Giovanna Cancemi
Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”—Radiology Unit I. University hospital “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele” Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Fabio Pino
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Regional Referral Centre for Rare Lung Disease, 95123 Catania, Italy
Ada Vancheri
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Regional Referral Centre for Rare Lung Disease, 95123 Catania, Italy
Carlo Vancheri
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Regional Referral Centre for Rare Lung Disease, 95123 Catania, Italy
Pietro Valerio Foti
Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”—Radiology Unit I. University hospital “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele” Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Letizia Antonella Mauro
Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”—Radiology Unit I. University hospital “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele” Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Antonio Basile
Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”—Radiology Unit I. University hospital “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele” Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
A cyst is a round circumscribed area of low attenuation, surrounded by epithelial or fibrous wall. Cysts can frequently occur on chest computed tomography (CT) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT); multiple parenchymal cysts of the lungs are the most typical feature of cystic lung interstitial diseases, characterizing a wide spectrum of diseases—ranging from isolated lung disorders up to diffuse pulmonary diseases. The aim of this review is to analyze scientific literature about cystic lung interstitial diseases and to provide a practical guide for radiologists, focusing on the main morphological features of pulmonary cysts: size, shape, borders, wall, location, and distribution. These features are shown on free-hand drawings and related to HRCT images, in order to help radiologists pursue the correct differential diagnosis between similar conditions.
