Computed tomography in pulmonary sarcoidosis
We studied the high resolution CT (HRCT) scans of 15 patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis and correlated the findings with pulmonary function tests (12 patients), 67Ga scans (10 patients), bronchoalveolar lavage (five patients), recent transbronchial biopsy (six patients), and recent open lung biopsy (three patients). The HRCT features included small nodules, thickened interlobular septa, patchy focal increase in lung density, honeycombing, and central conglomeration of vessels and bronchi. Active alveolitis was present by gallium scanning criteria in 5 of 10 cases. By bronchoalveolar lavage criteria, activity was present in three of five cases. Patchy increase in density may correlate with active alveolitis as seen on /sup 67/Ga scanning. High resolution CT was better than chest X-radiography for demonstration of patchy increase in density and for distinguishing nodules from septal thickening. Both nodules and patchy density were partly reversible following therapy. Nodular densities seen on CT correlated with the presence of granulomata on histology. Resting pulmonary function tests correlated poorly with presence and extent of lung disease on HRCT. The presence on HRCT of focal fine nodules, patchy focal increase in lung density, and central crowding of bronchi and vessels should suggest the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. In some patients, HRCT can identify unsuspected parenchymal lung disease and document the reversible components of sarcoid lung disease.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, San Francisco (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5931565
- Journal Information:
- J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr.; (United States), Vol. 13:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Gallium-67 scanning to stage the alveolitis of sarcoidosis: correlation with clinical studies, pulmonary function studies, and bronchoalveolar lavage
Gallium-67 scanning to stage the alveolitis of sarcoidosis: correlation with clinical studies, pulmonary function studies, and bronchoalveolar lavage
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LUNGS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
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EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
FIBROSIS
GALLIUM 67
LAVAGE
MAN
PATIENTS
PREDNISONE
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ADRENAL HORMONES
ANIMALS
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BODY
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DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
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GLUCOCORTICOIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
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KETONES
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
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550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
550602 - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)