• Thoracic Surgery
• Interstitial Fibrosis

Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) are incidentally identified abnormalities on chest computed tomography (CT) consistent with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in an individual without a known or suspected diagnosis. ILA have been associated with many adverse clinical outcomes including significant reductions in lung function,1 exercise capacity2 and survival,3 and in some cases may be a precursor for the most severe forms of ILD—idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis.4 ILA are becoming increasingly recognised in clinical practice, which motivated publication of a Fleischner Society Position Paper in 2020 to codify the definition for clinical use and begin to assemble suggestions for real-world management.5

Lung cancer and ILA are commonly coidentified on chest CT scans, given that both conditions can share some mutual risk factors.6 7 There have been several studies demonstrating an increased risk for adverse treatment-related consequences in patients with lung cancer with ILA including radiation pneumonitis,8 immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced pneumonitis,9 and mortality in general.7 Although adverse postoperative outcomes are well described …