Pulmonary abnormalities in ankylosing spondylitis: inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution CT findings in 17 patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate pulmonary manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis on inspiratory and expiratory high resolution CT.


METHODS
The study included 17 patients ranging from 40 to 62 years in age. Fifteen patients were male, and 8 were smokers. All patients underwent chest radiography and high-resolution CT. High-resolution CT was obtained using 1 or 2 mm collimation scans at 10-mm intervals at the end of maximal inspiration and at 3 cm intervals at the end of maximal expiration.


RESULTS
Pulmonary abnormalities were evident on chest radiography in 2 patients and on CT in 15 patients. The abnormalities on CT included evidence of airway disease in 14 (82%), interstitial abnormalities in 11 (65%), and emphysema in 6 (35%) patients. Airway abnormalities included bronchial wall thickening in 7 (41%), mosaic perfusion in 3 (18%), centrilobular nodules in 3, bronchiolectasis in 2, and air trapping on expiratory CT in 7 (41%) patients. Interstitial abnormalities included parenchymal bands in 7 (41%), intralobular linear opacities (n = 2), and 1 patient each with irregular thickening of interlobular septa, subpleural lines, and honeycombing.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of patients with ankylosing spondylitis have airway and interstitial abnormalities evident on high-resolution CT. These abnormalities are usually mild and therefore seldom evident on the chest radiograph.
Souza
Arthur Soares
AS
Department of Radiology, Hospital de Base da Faculdade de Medicina (FAMERP) e Instituto de Radiodiagnóstico Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
Müller
Nestor L
NL
Marchiori
Edson
E
Soares-Souza
Luciana Volpon
LV
de Souza Rocha
Manoel
M
D000328:Adult; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed