title: Pulmonary computed tomography findings in patients with chronic aspiration detected by videofluoroscopic swallowing study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate CT findings in patients with chronic aspiration compared with a control group without aspiration, as detected by the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective, observational study included patients with and without diagnoses of aspiration confirmed by VFSS, who underwent CT examination of the lungs between 2010 and 2014. Two radiologists blinded to the presence of aspiration reviewed the images to detect the presence of any abnormality. Consensus was reached with a third radiologist. CT pulmonary findings (bronchial thickening, bronchiolectasis, centrilobular nodules, ground-glass opacities, atelectasis, consolidation and air trapping) were compared between the groups using the χ(2) test, with a significance level of 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 56 patients (28 patients with diagnoses of aspiration; 52% male, mean age 65 ± 15 years) were included in the study. Patients with aspiration were more likely to than those in the control group to demonstrate atelectasis, centrilobular nodules, bronchiolectasis, consolidation and ground-glass opacities (all p < 0.05), with a significant predilection for the lower lobes (p < 0.001). Bronchial wall thickening and air trapping did not differ between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atelectasis, centrilobular nodules, bronchiolectasis, consolidation and ground-glass opacities occurred more frequently in patients with aspiration than in those without aspiration, with a pronounced tendency for distribution in the lower lobes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT findings of aspiration are very important, as pulmonary symptoms may be the first manifestation of this disorder. Knowledge of these findings is essential to enable the early diagnosis of aspiration disorders and prevent lung damage.
authors.affiliation: 1 Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Betina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4292-3471
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scheeren
authors.affiliation: 2 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchiori
authors.affiliation: 3 Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: 4 Fleury Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.affiliation: 2 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: 1 Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hochhegger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014743:Videotape Recording