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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
04:44
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
[Lung involvement in systemic connective tissue diseases]
Goran Plavec1, Ilija Tomić, Sanela Bihorac
1Vojnomedicinska akademija, Klinika za plućne bolesti, Beograd, Srbija. g_plavec@yahoo.com
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
|September 26, 2008
Summary
Pulmonary fibrosis occurs in 10% of patients with systemic connective tissue diseases (SCTD). Hypoxemia may indicate fibrosis even with normal chest X-rays, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
Context:
- Systemic connective tissue diseases (SCTD) are chronic autoimmune disorders affecting multiple organs.
- Respiratory involvement is common in SCTD, impacting patient prognosis.
- Understanding the spectrum of lung disease in SCTD is crucial for early diagnosis and management.
Purpose:
- To determine the frequency of respiratory symptoms, lung function abnormalities, and imaging findings in SCTD patients.
- To investigate the correlation between respiratory manifestations and disease duration or treatment in SCTD.
- To identify early indicators of pulmonary involvement in SCTD.
Summary:
- Half of SCTD patients exhibited symptoms of lung involvement, with 40% showing lung function test abnormalities.
- High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) revealed pulmonary fibrosis in approximately 10% of patients.
- Hypoxemia was observed in 20% of symptomatic patients, sometimes preceding radiographic changes.
Impact:
- Pulmonary fibrosis in SCTD may not be directly related to treatment regimens.
- Hypoxemia can be an early sign of pulmonary fibrosis in SCTD, even when chest radiography appears normal.
- These findings highlight the importance of HRCT and monitoring for hypoxemia in SCTD patients with respiratory symptoms.
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