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Not infrequently, chest computed tomography (CT) — whether done to evaluate pulmonary symptoms or for other reasons — reveals interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs; NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 1 2013 and Radiology 2013; 268:563). To shed light on the natural history and possible significance of such findings, researchers analyzed paired chest CT scans, done about 6 years apart, in 1867 mostly middle-aged participants in the Framingham Heart Study.
A total of 155 participants (8%) had ILA: It was present on the first CT scan in 53 participants, and was first noted on the second CT scan in 102 participants. Among the 53 who had ILA on the first scan, 16 had radiographic progression on the second scan. The authors chose to define “ILA progression” as i…