Diagnosing Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Education for the Community-based Radiologist

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) continue to suffer unacceptable delays in diagnoses and initiations of optimal treatments that can positively impact morbidity and mortality. Radiologists play a critical role in the accurate interpretation of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans and are essential in identifying candidates for agents approved for the treatment of IPF. Because more than 80% of referring physicians rely on radiologists’ interpretations of CT scans all or most of the time, it is essential that radiologists are aware of the clinical features and distinct radiology pattern of IPF and are able to distinguish IPF from other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) and lung-disease patients.

Educational Objectives - At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to demonstrate the ability to

-Recognize the clinical features of IPF, including pulmonary and non-pulmonary findings in HRCT images and patient history

-Distinguish IPF from other pulmonary conditions by differentiating usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) categories (definite, possible, and inconsistent) in HRCT images

-Effectively communicate with referring physicians regarding HRCT results and diagnoses of IPF