RESEARCH - Lung changes in rheumatoid arthritis: CT findings

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Radiology, Vol 193, 375-382, Copyright © 1994 by Radiological Society of

North America

Lung changes in rheumatoid arthritis: CT findings

M Remy-Jardin, J Remy, B Cortet, F Mauri and B Delcambre

Department of Radiology, Hopital Calmette, Lille, France.

PURPOSE: To evaluate lung changes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS

AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the computed tomographic (CT) scans from

84 patients with RA with a mean articular disease duration (+/- standard

deviation) of 12 years +/- 8 (range, 0.3-45 years). Fifteen patients

underwent sequential CT evaluation during 5-65- month follow-up (mean, 18

months). RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (49%) had abnormal CT scans showing

the following abnormalities: (a) bronchiectasis and/or bronchiolectasis (n =

23, 30%), ( pulmonary nodules (n = 17, 22%), © subpleural micronodules

and/or pseudoplaques (n = 13, 17%), (d) nonseptal linear attenuation (n =

14, 18%), (e) areas of ground-glass attenuation (n = 11, 14%), and (f)

honeycombing (n = 8, 10%). Abnormal CT examinations were recorded in 11 of

38 asymptomatic patients (29%) and 27 of 39 symptomatic patients (69%). The

following CT abnormalities were found with a significantly higher frequency

among patients with respiratory symptoms: (a) bronchiectasis and/or

bronchiolectasis, ( rounded areas of attenuation, © areas of

ground-glass attenuation, and (d) honeycombing.

CONCLUSION: CT may be a useful noninvasive tool for recognition of

RA-associated lung disease with special emphasis on bronchial and

bronchiolar changes.

http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/abstract/193/2/375

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