Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: high-resolution CT, chest radiographic, and functional correlations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a correlation exists between pulmonary function and both frontal chest radiographs and high-resolution chest CT findings in patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP).


METHODS
Retrospective review of radiographic and clinical data.


METHODS
Tertiary referral hospital.


METHODS
Seven patients with PAP were studied on 25 occasions using high-resolution chest CT (n=21), frontal chest radiographs (n=19), and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) (n=25).


RESULTS
Visual estimates of the extent, degree, and overall severity of parenchymal abnormalities were determined for plain radiographs and high-resolution chest CT, and were correlated with PFTs. With high-resolution CT, the extent and severity of ground-glass opacity correlated significantly with the presence of a restrictive ventilatory defect, reduced diffusing capacity, and hypoxemia. Chest radiographic findings also correlated significantly with restrictive ventilatory defect, diffusing capacity, and hypoxemia.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with PAP, although high-resolution CT correlates more closely with pulmonary function, plain radiographs should be sufficient for follow-up.
Lee
K N
KN
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Levin
D L
DL
Webb
W R
WR
Chen
D
D
Storto
M L
ML
Golden
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011649:Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed