Amyloidosis of the heart and respiratory system.
Since the incidence of amyloidosis is increasing, the purpose of this article is to review the imaging features of intrathoracic amyloidosis. Amyloidosis forms a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by the extracellular deposition of a homologous protein complex. The heart is the most commonly involved organ in the chest. Respiratory amyloidal deposition is much less common and may be generalised, when it occurs as a part of a systemic disease, or it may be restricted only to the respiratory system. Although, the abnormalities are considered non-specific, recent literature suggests-especially for cardiac amyloidosis-specific patterns of abnormalities.
Van Geluwe
Filiep
F
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
Dymarkowski
Steven
S
Crevits
Ilse
I
De Wever
Walter
W
Bogaert
Jan
J
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed