Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia versus chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: high-resolution CT findings in 81 patients.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research was to compare high-resolution CT findings of bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) with those of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) and to determine whether high-resolution CT can differentiate the two.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed high-resolution CT scans of 38 patients with BOOP and 43 patients with CEP. Without knowledge of the diagnosis, two radiologists evaluated the frequency and distribution of high-resolution CT findings in both groups of patients and made a diagnosis using a three-point scale of confidence.


RESULTS
Nodules, nonseptal linear or reticular opacities, and bronchial dilatation were significantly more common in BOOP than in CEP (31.6% vs. 4.7%, p < 0.005; 44.7% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001; and 57.9% vs. 25.6%, p < 0.005, respectively). Septal line thickening was more frequent in CEP than in BOOP (72.1% vs. 39.5%, p < 0.005). Peribronchial distribution of consolidation was more frequent in BOOP than in CEP (28.9% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.05). A correct diagnosis was made in 69.7% of cases, and the diagnostician was confident in 21.7%. Interobserver agreement was good (kappa = 0.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Although several of the high-resolution CT findings of BOOP and CEP are different, these diseases are differentiated with confidence in only a small percentage of cases.
Arakawa
H
H
Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-Ku, Kawasaki City, 216-8511 Japan.
Kurihara
Y
Y
Niimi
H
H
Nakajima
Y
Y
Johkoh
T
T
Nakamura
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed