Interstitial lung disease imaging for autoimmune diseases.

Imaging plays a central role in the diagnosis and surveillance of patients with rheumatic diseases complicated by lung disease. This lung disease ranges from acute lung injury to chronic, diffuse lung disease attributed to their underlying autoimmune condition. Whether screening for lung disease or evaluating respiratory symptoms in patients with rheumatic diseases, chest radiography and computed tomography remain the most common and important diagnostic imaging tests. MRI remains an evolving modality for the evaluation of lung disease, but it is an important test in evaluating vascular disease or involvement of the heart and chest wall. This work aims to illustrate the role of diagnostic imaging in interstitial lung disease and other thoracic manifestations of autoimmune disease.