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High-resolution chest CT in systemic lupus erythematosus
H M Fenlon1, M Doran, S M Sant
1Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology
|February 1, 1996
Summary
High-resolution CT (HRCT) reveals common thoracic abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, often undetected by standard radiography or pulmonary function tests. These HRCT findings, including interstitial lung disease and bronchiectasis, highlight the technique's sensitivity for SLE pulmonary involvement.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pulmonology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can affect the lungs, but characteristic imaging findings are not fully established.
- Previous diagnostic methods may lack sensitivity in detecting early or subclinical pulmonary manifestations of SLE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings in patients with SLE.
- To correlate HRCT findings with clinical data, chest radiography, and pulmonary function tests.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 34 patients with documented SLE.
- All patients underwent plain chest radiography, thoracic spiral CT, HRCT, and pulmonary function testing.
Main Results:
- HRCT abnormalities were found in 70% of patients, compared to 24% with abnormal chest radiographs and 41% with abnormal pulmonary function tests.
- Common HRCT findings included interstitial lung disease, bronchiectasis, lymphadenopathy, and pleuropericardial abnormalities.
- No significant correlation was observed between HRCT findings and disease activity, duration, symptoms, treatment, or smoking history.
Conclusions:
- HRCT is a sensitive tool for detecting thoracic manifestations of SLE, including airways disease, lymphadenopathy, and interstitial lung disease.
- Pulmonary involvement on HRCT can be present even with normal chest X-rays, normal pulmonary function tests, and absence of symptoms.
- HRCT aids in characterizing SLE-related lung disease and can guide further diagnostic procedures like bronchoalveolar lavage or lung biopsy.