Interstitial Lung Abnormalities at CT in the Korean National Lung Cancer Screening Program: Prevalence and Deep Learning–based Texture Analysis

Abstract

Background Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) are associated with worse clinical outcomes, but ILA with lung cancer screening CT has not been quantitatively assessed.

Purpose To determine the prevalence of ILA at CT examinations from the Korean National Lung Cancer Screening Program and define an optimal lung area threshold for ILA detection with CT with use of deep learning–based texture analysis.

Materials and Methods This retrospective study included participants who underwent chest CT between April 2017 and December 2020 at two medical centers participating in the Korean National Lung Cancer Screening Program. CT findings were classified by three radiologists into three groups: no ILA, equivocal ILA, and ILA (fibrotic and nonfibrotic). Progression was evaluated between baseline and last follow-up CT scan. The extent of ILA was assessed visually and quantitatively with use of deep learning–based texture analysis. The Youden index was used to determine an optimal cutoff value for detecting ILA with use of texture analysis. Demographics and ILA subcategories were compared between participants with progressive and nonprogressive ILA.

Results A total of 3118 participants were included in this study, and ILAs were observed with the CT scans of 120 individuals (4%). The median extent of ILA calculated by the quantitative system was 5.8% for the ILA group, 0.7% for the equivocal ILA group, and 0.1% for the no ILA group (P < .001). A 1.8% area threshold in a lung zone for quantitative detection of ILA showed 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity. Progression was observed in 48% of visually assessed fibrotic ILAs (15 of 31), and quantitative extent of ILA increased by 3.1% in subjects with progression.

Conclusion ILAs were detected in 4% of the Korean lung cancer screening population. Deep learning–based texture analysis showed high sensitivity and specificity for detecting ILA with use of a 1.8% lung area cutoff value.