Chest computerized tomography in the evaluation of uveitis in elderly women.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the usefulness of chest computerized tomography (CT) in the evaluation of uveitis in elderly women and the clinical characteristics of patients with an abnormal chest CT scan.


METHODS
Prospective noncomparative case series.


METHODS
We evaluated 30 elderly women, aged 61-83 years, with chronic iritis, vitritis, or choroiditis and with no definitive cause for their uveitis. All patients underwent a battery of diagnostic laboratory studies and chest CT.


RESULTS
The diagnostic examination in most patients included serum angiotensin converting enzyme level, serum lysozyme, rapid plasma reagin level, fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption test, purified protein derivative skin test, and chest x-rays. Chest CT performed on all patients showed parenchymal, mediastinal, and/or hilar adenopathy in 17 patients (57%). Histopathologic confirmation of sarcoidosis with noncaseating granulomas in the biopsy specimens was obtained in 14 patients: eight by mediastinoscopy, two by bronchoscopy, two by conjunctival biopsy, one by nasal biopsy, and one by vitreous biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Chest CT can be useful in elderly female patients with chronic uveitis for identifying mediastinal lymphadenopathy and other lesions suggestive of sarcoidosis, as well as to help guide tissue confirmation and to rule out other diagnoses including lymphoma.
Kaiser
Peter K
PK
Division of Ophthalmology, Cole Eye Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Lowder
Careen Y
CY
Sullivan
Preston
P
Sanislo
Steven R
SR
Kosmorsky
Gregory S
GS
Meziane
Moulay A
MA
Rice
Thomas W
TW
Smith
Scott D
SD
Meisler
David M
DM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008481:Mediastinoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014605:Uveitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology