Pulmonary CT findings in relapsing polychondritis.
BACKGROUND
Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is a rare rheumatic disease characterized by recurrent inflammation of cartilaginous structures, with airway involvement a major cause of morbidity and mortality.


OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively evaluate airway and lung abnormalities in RPC with computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
From January 2004 to May 2009, 21 patients with RPC (12 men, 9 women; 13-65 years old) underwent chest CT examinations. Two chest radiologists evaluated the CT images retrospectively. Abnormal findings, including airway stenosis, airway malacia, air trapping, and airway wall thickening with or without calcifications, were observed and noted.


RESULTS
Major abnormal CT findings were observed in eight patients (38.1%), which included airway wall thickening (n=7), airway stenosis (n=6), airway malacia (n=6), airway wall calcification (n=8), and air trapping (n=3). Mediastinal lymph nodes were found in 12 patients. Lung infection was identified in four patients and interstitial lung disease in six patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The CT findings in patients with RPC consisted mainly of airway wall thickening, airway stenosis, airway malacia, airway wall calcification, and air trapping.
Lin
Zhi Qian
ZQ
Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Xu
Jian Rong
JR
Chen
Jie Jun
JJ
Hua
Xiao Lan
XL
Zhang
Ke Bei
KB
Guan
Yong Jing
YJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*