A CT-based score for predicting histopathological usual interstitial pneumonia features and predicting disease progression in smokers with fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES

Histopathological usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) features are associated with progressive fibrosis but may be overlooked in smokers, where emphysema and smoking-related fibrosis complicate CT-based UIP classification. This study aimed to develop and validate a CT-based score to detect histopathological UIP features and to evaluate its association with disease progression in smokers with fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This retrospective multicentre study included two biopsy-proven cohorts of smokers with fibrotic IIP: derivation (n = 242; nationwide registry) and validation (n = 126; single-centre database, 2008-2013). Three predefined HRCT findings-upper-lobe irregular lines (U), irregularity of pleural surface (I), and pleural-based basal reticulation (P)-were scored (0/1) and summed as the U-I-P score (0-3). Associations with histopathological UIP features and outcomes were assessed using logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic analysis, Cox proportional hazards models, and bootstrap internal validation.

RESULTS

Cohorts were similar (median age 65 vs. 64 years; 88% vs. 87% male). Histopathological UIP features were present in 208/242 (86%) and 109/126 (87%) patients. The U-I-P score independently predicted histopathological UIP features in both cohorts (area under the curve, 0.83 and 0.89; both p < 0.001). Bootstrap validation demonstrated minimal optimism, supporting model stability. The U-I-P score independently predicted disease progression at 1 and 2 years in the validation cohort (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The U-I-P score detects histopathological UIP features and predicts disease progression in smokers with fibrotic IIP, providing a practical imaging biomarker, even in cases with atypical CT patterns.

KEY POINTS: Question: In smokers with fibrotic interstitial lung disease, emphysema and smoking-related fibrosis complicate CT pattern classification, limiting identification of usual interstitial pneumonia pathology.

FINDINGS: The U-I-P (upper-lobe irregular lines, irregularity of pleural surface, pleural-based reticulation) score detected histopathological usual interstitial pneumonia features and predicted progression.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The U-I-P score aids identification of smokers with usual interstitial pneumonia-type fibrosis and increased risk of progression when biopsy is unavailable, or CT patterns are atypical for usual interstitial pneumonia.