Amyloidosis: review and imaging findings

Area of Science:

• Pathology
• Radiology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Amyloidosis is characterized by extracellular deposition of abnormal fibrillar proteins (amyloid).
• Amyloid accumulation can be systemic or localized, affecting multiple organs or individual sites.
• The disease can be primary/idiopathic or secondary to chronic inflammatory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of imaging in diagnosing amyloidosis.
• To emphasize the need for radiologists to be familiar with diverse imaging findings.
• To underscore the role of early disease identification in treatment planning and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging findings across various modalities for amyloidosis.
• Correlation of imaging findings with clinical history and biopsy confirmation.
• Discussion of the pathophysiological basis of amyloid deposition and its effects.

Main Results:

• Amyloid infiltration disrupts tissue structure and function, leading to varied pathologies.
• Imaging findings are diverse and often nonspecific, requiring clinical correlation.
• Familiarity with imaging appearances aids in raising suspicion and guiding diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Radiologists play a key role in the early identification of amyloidosis through diverse imaging modalities.
• Familiarity with imaging findings can improve diagnostic accuracy and prompt treatment.
• Early diagnosis and treatment planning are essential to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with amyloidosis.