Common pulmonary computed tomography signs and their clinical relevance: A review

With the advent of computed tomography (CT) in respiratory medicine, a greater delineation of the respiratory structures has been possible in the two-dimensional space. The various CT techniques used by pulmonologists include the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) thorax with expiratory scans, contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) thorax, CT thorax, CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and rarely a CT aortography/angiography. Each of the imaging techniques presents stronger and weaker points. In this paper, radiological lesions are classified according to their location. Such abnormalities are observed in the airways, in the lung parenchyma, in the interstitium and last but not least in the pleura. The review mainly addresses radiological lesions with higher specificity because they are key elements in establishing a definitive diagnosis. In conclusion, performing a chest CT is vital in the diagnosis and management of respiratory conditions.