Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia: thin-section CT findings in 22 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the thin-section computed tomographic (CT) findings of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia.


METHODS
The study included 22 patients (five men, 17 women; age range, 24-83 years; mean age, 50 years) with biopsy-proved lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia. The CT scans were obtained by using 1-3-mm collimation and reconstructed by using a high-spatial-frequency algorithm.


RESULTS
The predominant abnormalities consisted of areas of ground-glass attenuation and poorly defined centrilobular nodules present in all 22 patients and subpleural small nodules seen in 19 patients. Other common findings included thickening of bronchovascular bundles (n - 19), interlobular septal thickening (n = 18), cystic airspaces (n = 15), and lymph node enlargement (n = 15). Less common findings included large nodules, emphysema, airspace consolidation, bronchiectasis, architectural distortion, honeycombing, and pleural thickening.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia is characterized by the presence of ground-glass attenuation, poorly defined centrilobular nodules, and thickening of the interstitium along the lymphatic vessels. Lymph node enlargement is more common than previously recognized; it was seen in 68% of patients.
Johkoh
T
T
Department of Radiology, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Center, British Columbia, Canada.
Müller
N L
NL
Pickford
H A
HA
Hartman
T E
TE
Ichikado
K
K
Akira
M
M
Honda
O
O
Nakamura
H
H
D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*