Fig. 3

Changes of the intensity of high-resolution computed tomography findings and pulmonary function parameters during follow-up. (A) Changes of the intensity of each high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) finding during follow-up periods. Coloured areas in the bar graph represent frequency of HRCT findings in each cluster at their initial scans and whether they were “worsened or unchanged” during follow-up periods. Proportions of broken line areas represent patient absence at their initial evaluation and whether their findings “improved or disappeared” during follow-up periods. Consolidation was the most sensitive lesion to treatment while reticulations and traction bronchiectasis progressed throughout the observation periods. (B) Time course changes of pulmonary function test parameters. Each dot represented data point for each case (orange, Cluster 1; blue, Cluster 2). %FVC changes were observed in clusters 1 and 2. Dramatic improvement after initial treatment was observed in Cluster 2; however, Cluster 2 showed marked re-worsening. Compared to %FVC, changes and difference in percentage of predicted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide between clusters were modest. (C) Kaplan–Meier survival curves for Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. Each curve represents Cluster 1 and Cluster 2, respectively (orange, Cluster 1; blue, Cluster 2). %DLCO, percentage of predicted diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide; %FVC, percentage of predicted forced vital capacity; GGO, ground-glass opacity.