Accuracy of Digital Tomosynthesis of the Chest in Detection of Interstitial Lung Disease Comparison With Digital Chest Radiography.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the ability of chest digital tomosynthesis (DTS) for detection of interstitial lung disease (ILD) compared with conventional chest radiography. We retrospectively reviewed 78 patients (60 males, 18 females, mean age = 53.05 years, range, 19-83 years) who underwent chest DTS for a 5-year interval (January 1, 2009-December 31, 2014). Of the 78 patients, 33 (42.3%) carried a diagnosis of ILD and 45 (57.7%) were not ILD. All computed tomography reports and medical records were reviewed. The conventional chest radiography and DTS were separately reviewed by 2 radiologists for the presence of ILD and the confidence in diagnosis. The diagnostic accuracy of DTS for the detection of ILD was better than conventional chest radiography (P < 0.05). Digital tomosynthesis had a sensitivity of 83.3% and negative predictive value of 89.0% that were statistically significantly better than conventional chest radiography (43.9% and 70.9%, respectively). Confidence in diagnosing ILD at DTS was higher than conventional chest radiography (P < 0.001) and had higher interobserver agreement than conventional chest radiography (P < 0.01). Digital tomosynthesis improves diagnostic performance and confidence in diagnosing ILD compared with conventional chest radiography. Digital tomosynthesis can be suggested as the initial diagnostic technique for patients with suspected ILD.