title: Imaging the Abdominal Manifestations of Cystic Fibrosis.
abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disease with a range of abdominal manifestations including those involving the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Recent advances in management of the respiratory complications of the disease has led to a greater life expectancy in patients with CF. Subsequently, there is increasing focus on the impact of abdominal disease on quality of life and survival. Liver cirrhosis is the most important extrapulmonary cause of death in CF, yet significant challenges remain in the diagnosis of CF related liver disease. The capacity to predict those patients at risk of developing cirrhosis remains a significant challenge. We review representative abdominal imaging findings in patients with CF selected from the records of two academic health centres, with a view to increasing familiarity with the abdominal manifestations of the disease. We review their presentation and expected imaging findings, with a focus on the challenges facing diagnosis of the hepatic manifestations of the disease. An increased familiarity with these abdominal manifestations will facilitate timely diagnosis and management, which is paramount to further improving outcomes for patients with cystic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: C D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3006-1467
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: M K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7345-3495
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: University College of Dublin School of Medicine, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: G N
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0240-8483
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: V O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ridge