Thoracic imaging features of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine the thoracic manifestations of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs).


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of the clinical records and thoracic imaging studies of 88 patients (63 women, 25 men; mean age 47 years) with APAs to determine the spectrum of thoracic disease.


RESULTS
Nine patients (10%) had thoracic abnormalities, including eight with pulmonary embolism (PE) and one with aortic thrombus. One patient with PE had subclavian vein thrombosis. Coexistent thromboses included deep venous thrombosis of the leg in six patients.


CONCLUSIONS
PE was the most common thoracic abnormality in our patients. The presence of these antibodies should be suspected in patients with PE of otherwise unexplained etiology.
Gilkeson
R C
RC
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Patz
E F
EF
Culhane
D
D
McAdams
H P
HP
Provenzale
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid