Deep learning in interstitial lung disease—how long until daily practice

Interstitial lung diseases are a diverse group of disorders that involve inflammation and fibrosis of interstitium, with clinical, radiological, and pathological overlapping features. These are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among lung diseases. This review describes computer-aided diagnosis systems centered on deep learning approaches that improve the diagnostic of interstitial lung diseases. We highlighted the challenges and the implementation of important daily practice, especially in the early diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Developing a convolutional neuronal network (CNN) that could be deployed on any computer station and be accessible to non-academic centers is the next frontier that needs to be crossed. In the future, early diagnosis of IPF should be possible. CNN might not only spare the human resources but also will reduce the costs spent on all the social and healthcare aspects of this deadly disease. Key Points • Deep learning algorithms are used in pattern recognition of different interstitial lung diseases. • High-resolution computed tomography plays a central role in the diagnosis and in the management of all interstitial lung diseases, especially fibrotic lung disease. • Developing an accessible algorithm that could be deployed on any computer station and be used in non-academic centers is the next frontier in the early diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00330-020-06986-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.