Transient pulmonary eosinophilia incidentally found on low-dose computed tomography: findings in 40 individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To describe computed tomography (CT) findings of transient pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) incidentally found on low-dose CT (LDCT) and to identify suggestive CT features helpful in initial diagnosis.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed LDCT scans in 40 individuals who met criteria for having TPE. There were 35 men and 5 women (age range, 32-62 years; mean, 48.5 +/- 9 years). Initial LDCT scans were assessed as either (a) nodules, further characterized as either solid, solid associated with a halo of ground-glass attenuation, or pure ground-glass lesions as well as by number, size, and location or (b) ill-defined foci of parenchymal consolidation.


RESULTS
A range of focal parenchymal abnormalities (n = 78) were identified-both single (48%) and multiple (52%). Most of these proved to be either solid nodules with discrete ground-glass halos (72%), or poorly defined solid nodules exhibiting a variety of differing morphologies (24%). Ill-defined foci of consolidation were noted in 3 cases (4%). The lesions were predominantly located in the lower lung zone (73%) with peripheral distribution (92%).


CONCLUSIONS
Transient pulmonary eosinophilia most often manifests as solid nodules with associated ground-glass halos. Awareness of TPE should serve to limit the number of mistaken diagnoses of early lung cancer.
Kim
Hyae Young
HY
Department of Radiology, Center for Lung Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. radhykim@ncc.re.kr
Naidich
David P
DP
Lim
Kun Young
KY
Lee
Soo-Hyun
SH
Kim
Tae Jung
TJ
Hwangbo
Bin
B
Lee
Joo-Hyuk
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*