Imaging of drug-induced lung disease

Chronic and acute lung disease caused by pulmonary drug toxicity is increasingly being diagnosed. Since the review articles in the early 1970s, ¹ numerous agents including cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic drugs have been identified as having the potential to cause pulmonary toxicity. ^2–7 Early recognition of pulmonary drug toxicity is important because undiagnosed injury can be progressive and fatal whereas cessation of therapy can result in reversal of the lung injury. However, recognition of drug-induced lung disease can be difficult because the clinical manifestations are usually non-specific. The radiological manifestations are also relatively non-specific, but they do reflect the underlying histopathological process. ^8–12 Recognition of the imaging appearances of the common histopathological manifestations of drug-induced lung injury and knowledge of the drugs most frequently involved can facilitate diagnosis.