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. 2013 Oct;23(4):304-7.
doi: 10.4103/0971-3026.125570.

Significance of various pulmonary and extrapulmonary abnormalities on HRCT of the chest in scleroderma lung

Anoop Kumar Pandey  1 , Pearce Wilcox  2 , Julie O' Brien  3 , Jennifer Ellis  3 , Jacquie Brown  3 , Jonathon Leipsic  3
Affiliations

Significance of various pulmonary and extrapulmonary abnormalities on HRCT of the chest in scleroderma lung

Anoop Kumar Pandey et al. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2013 Oct.

Abstract

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are routinely investigated with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest for early detection and accurate characterization of complicating interstitial lung diseases. Though the primary aim of HRCT is to delineate the burden of pulmonary involvement and to characterize the nature of fibrosis to potentially help guide management, it provides an opportunity to evaluate extrapulmonary manifestations, particularly the dilated pulmonary artery, esophageal dilatation, and pericardial abnormalities which have their own clinical significance. The aim of this article is to discuss the significance of various pulmonary and extrapulmonary abnormalities that may be identified on HRCT chest of SSc patients.

Keywords: Ground-glass opacity; HRCT Chest; lung fibrosis; pulmonary hypertension; systemic sclerosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figures 1 (A-D)
Figures 1 (A-D)
(A) Coronal reformatted image of HRCT chest at lung window image displaying ground-glass opacity in bilateral lung bases. (B) Axial image of HRCT chest at lung window displaying ground-glass opacity and changes of fibrosis as manifested by traction bronchiectasis and septal thickening in bilateral lung bases. (C) Axial image of HRCT chest at lung window at the level just above carina depicting intralobular and interlobular septal thickening with traction bronchiolectasis in bilateral (left > right) upper lobes posteriorly. (D) Axial image of HRCT chest lung window at the level of lung bases showing bilateral honeycombing
Figures 2 (A-C)
Figures 2 (A-C)
(A) Coronal reformatted image of non contrast CT of chest at mediastinal window displaying pericardial effusion in a patient of systemic sclerosis and pulmonary hypertension. (B) Axial image of non contrast CT chest at mediastinal window at the level of bifurcation of main pulmonary artery. A line has been drawn to represent the method to measure MPA diameter. Also note the fluid-filled dilated anterior pericardial recess. (C) Axial image of non contrast CT of chest at mediastinal window at the level of inferior pulmonary veins show dilated esophagus with air-fluid level
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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