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Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Imaging of Pulmonary Manifestations of Connective Tissue Diseases
Jitesh Ahuja1, Deepika Arora2, Jeffrey P Kanne3
1Department of Radiology, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Abstract:
Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by circulating autoantibodies and autoimmune-mediated organ damage. Common CTDs with lung manifestations are rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or systemic sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosis, mixed connective tissue disease, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease. The most common histopathologic patterns of CTD-related interstitial lung disease are nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, usual interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and lymphoid interstitial pneumonia. Drug treatment of CTDs can cause complications, including opportunistic infection.
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