Bronchomalacia in sarcoidosis: evaluation on volumetric expiratory high-resolution CT of the lung.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of bronchomalacia associated with sarcoidosis and compare the extent of air trapping in patients with sarcoidosis with and without bronchomalacia.


METHODS
Eighteen consecutive patients (6 men, 12 women; age, 29-64 years; mean age, 47 years) with pathologically proven sarcoidosis who underwent clinical volumetric expiratory high-resolution computed tomography were studied. On contiguous end-expiratory images, the presence and severity of bronchomalacia and extent of air trapping were evaluated. The extent of air trapping was compared between patients with sarcoidosis with and without bronchomalacia.


RESULTS
Bronchomalacia was noted in 11 of 18 patients (61%) with sarcoidosis (grade 1 [mild], n = 6; grade 2 [moderate], n = 4; and grade 3 [severe], n = 1). Air trapping was observed in 17 of 18 patients (94%; grade 1 [1%-25%], n = 8; grade 2 [26%-50%], n = 9). The extent of air trapping in patients with bronchomalacia was significantly greater than that in patients without bronchomalacia (P = .027, chi-squared test).


CONCLUSIONS
Bronchomalacia frequently was associated with sarcoidosis, and the extent of air trapping was significantly greater in patients with sarcoidosis with bronchomalacia compared with those without bronchomalacia.
Nishino
Mizuki
M
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston MA 02215, USA. mnishino@bidmc.harvard.edu
Kuroki
Masaomi
M
Roberts
David H
DH
Mori
Yasutane
Y
Boiselle
Phillip M
PM
Hatabu
Hiroto
H
D000328:Adult; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*