Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Chest CT texture analysis for response assessment in systemic sclerosis
C Kloth1, J Henes2, T Xenitidis2
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm Germany.
Purpose:
To evaluate the role of CT-textural features for monitoring lung involvement in subjects with systemic sclerosis(SSc) undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation(SCT) by comparison with semi-quantitative chest-CT, pulmonary function tests(PFT) and clinical parameters (modified Rodnan skin score[mRSS]).
Methods:
In a retrospective single centre analysis, we identified 23 consecutive subjects(11male) with SSc between 07/2005 and 11/2016 that underwent chest CTs before, 6 and 12 months post-SCT. Response to therapy was defined at 6 months after transplantation as stabilisation or improvement in FVC > 10% and DLCOSB > 10%. CT-texture analysis(CTTA) including mean, entropy and uniformity were calculated.
Results:
PFT classified the subjects into responders(18/23;78%) and non-responders(5/23;22%). mRSS improved in responders from 28.46 ± 9.53 to 15.70 ± 10.07 6 months after auto-SCT(p = .001) whereas in non-responders no significant improvement was registered. Fibrosis score increased significantly(mean2.33 ± 1.23 vs.1.41 ± 0.78; p = .005) in non-responders after 6 and 12months. Significant lower mean intensity and entropy of skewness and higher uniformity of skewness was found in responders vs. non-responders at baseline. Significant changes in CTTA-parameters were found in both responders and non-responders at 6months and only in responders also at 12months post-SCT.
Conclusions:
Changes in CT-textural features after SCT are associated with visual CT evaluation of SSc-related lung abnormalities, but complementary provide information about therapy-induced, structural pulmonary changes.
Related Concept Videos
Shape and Texture of Coarse Aggregate
Flail Chest-I
Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...
Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:
Chest Physiotherapy
Purpose
CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...
Second Order systems II
Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT

