FREQUENCY OF DIFFUSE LUNG DISEASES ON HIGH-RESOLUTION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Objective: To determine the frequency and patterns of diffuse lung diseases (DLDs) and associated findings using High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) in a tertiary care setting in Peshawar. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, involving 324 patients referred for HRCT due to suspected pulmonary pathology. A retrospective review of HRCT scans and medical records was performed. Data were analyzed to identify the presence of DLD, specific disease patterns (fibrosis, tuberculosis, infective causes, COPD), associated non-pulmonary findings, and clinical presentation. Results: The study included 324 participants, predominantly in the age group of 21–40 years (40.1%). Evidence of diffuse lung disease was found in 91 patients (28.3%). Among those diagnosed with DLD, pulmonary fibrosis was the most prevalent condition (55.3%), followed by pulmonary tuberculosis (26.6%) and infective lung diseases (17.0%). Associated findings included cardiomegaly (n=38), bronchiectasis (n=14), and lymphadenopathy (n=14). The most common clinical presentations were shortness of breath (39.1%) and cough (38.8%). Conclusion: There is a significant burden of diffuse lung diseases in the studied population, with pulmonary fibrosis and tuberculosis being the leading diagnoses on HRCT. These findings underscore the critical role of HRCT in the early detection and differentiation of DLDs to guide appropriate clinical management in developing regions.