Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease: A Pattern-Based Imaging Approach

A practical radiology review of Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease: A Pattern-Based Imaging Approach, focused on imaging findings, differential diagnosis, reporting points, and high-yield teaching pearls.

• What is it?
• Heterogeneous diffuse lung diseases unique to childhood

Not same entities or patterns as adult ILD

• Rare but high morbidity — esp. surfactant disorders (100% neonatal mortality w/o transplant)

Classification logic (ATS-2013)

1. First exclude common causes (infection, aspiration, CF, BPD)

Then group by age at onset

• Infancy-specific (developmental, lung growth, undefined, surfactant dysfunction)