Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis-like lesions on chest computed tomography in routine clinical practice

Purpose To evaluate the incidence and changes in the pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE)-like lesions on chest CT in routine clinical practice. Materials and methods This study included 1284 patients who underwent chest CT in 2011 at a hospital. The incidence of PPFE-like lesions and their correlation with age, body mass index, and concomitant pulmonary findings were assessed. Moreover, predictors of lesion progression were evaluated on follow-up. The ethical review board waived the requirement of informed consent for the retrospective review of patient records. Results In total, 397 (30.9%) of the 1284 patients presented with PPFE-like lesions. The presence of PPFE-like lesions was correlated with older age (mean 72.2 vs. 69.9 years, p = 0.002); lower BMI (mean 21.0 vs. 23.2, p Conclusion Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis-like lesions were not rare and correlated with interstitial pneumonia, emphysema, chronic airway disease, and old tuberculosis. On follow-up, PPFE-like lesions in some patients with concomitant interstitial pneumonia exhibited progression.